With a number of daily donors far below the ideal, Hemointo, blood bank of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (Into), is trying to raise awareness of the population for blood donation. The head of the Division of Auxiliary Technical Services at Into, Elizandra Duarte, told Agência Brasil that the ideal is to collect between 30 and 50 bags per day, but currently, only five donors have come to donate. 
“On the way back from the holidays and with this sudden increase in the number of contaminated cases of covid, our stock is well below what is ideal for us to meet all our demand”, reinforced Elizandra. “That’s why we’re asking for collaboration, so that these donors come and we can maintain our productivity and serve the entire population”.
Blood stocks at Into need to be increased in view of the number of surgeries, many of which are highly complex, performed by the Ministry of Health unit. On average, the institute performs 30 to 32 procedures daily.
No prior appointment is required to donate. It is enough for people to go to Hemointo, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 8 am to 5 pm. Located at Avenida Brasil, 500, 1º andar, in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, Hemointo offers free transportation for group donations and scheduled with the fundraising team at (21) 21345067 and (21) 21345577.
To donate, people must be between 16 and 69 years of age, weigh more than 50 kilos and be in good health. The donor must carry an original identity document and cannot be fasting. On the contrary, it is recommended that you eat before, but avoid fatty foods and alcoholic drinks. Young people aged between 16 and 17 can only donate blood with the authorization of their parents or legal guardians through the Hemointo form.
Covid-19
Elizandra Duarte clarified that those who were affected by covid-19 can only donate 30 days after the cure. “If the person who acquired covid had the severe form of the disease, they will only be able to donate after a year. She is unfit for a year.”
In case of home contact or otherwise with suspected or confirmed cases, donors are unfit for 14 days after cessation of contact with the infected person. Likewise, donors who have returned from international travel from any country are unfit for 14 days.
vaccines
The head of Into’s Auxiliary Technical Services Division also reported that donors immunized with Oxford or AstraZeneca/Fiocruz vaccines are unable to donate for seven days after each dose. Donors vaccinated with Coronavac, from Sinovac/Butantan, do not donate for 48 hours after each dose.
