PANJIM: The Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Dr Shivanand Bandekar has made an appeal to the public to come forward and donate plasma.
Speaking to the media persons on Sunday, he pointed out that as per the Centre’s guidelines, the vaccination programme for people above the age of 18 will commence from May 1. Against that backdrop and taking into consideration those who have received their vaccine doses in last month, he explained that as per the Centre’s guidelines, those who have taken a vaccine dose cannot donate blood for a period of 28 days.
The Dean pointed out that this is likely to create a situation where there could be a shortage of plasma as people taking the first and then second dose of the vaccine won’t be to donate plasma.
He clarified that he is not asking people not to take the vaccine; he wants all to take it but just requested more donors to come forward urgently.
He also stated that the plasma they have is used on a daily basis and so there is always a requirement to get more donors. While they have plasma stock for the interim period, they are trying to get more plasma for the next coming months.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had also made an appeal for plasma donation on Saturday, while several local groups have also been appealing to the public to do the same.
