The debate about the safety of blood donations from people who have received the experimental Covid gene therapy drugs has reached a new high: In the US state of Montana, some Republicans want to enforce a blood donation ban for people who have been vaccinated with mRNA. Among other things, this causes resistance from a non-profit organization that operates 120 blood donation centers in the USA. She states: 80 percent of the blood supplies come from vaccinated people – without them there would be an acute shortage of donations. However: These blood supplies could be contaminated with vaccine mRNA. The health consequences for recipients are hardly foreseeable.
With regard to possible risks from blood donations from vaccinates, we are currently fishing in murky waters. A study recently showed that vaccine mRNA can still be detected in the blood of donors up to 28 days after the mRNA Covid vaccination: The possibility that recipients of these donations could subsequently suffer health problems similar to those of many vaccinated people is after cannot be ruled out given the current state of knowledge: there is no reliable data that would refute the fears of many critics of gene therapy drugs in this regard. While taking many medications leads to a temporary exclusion from donating blood and, for example, in Germany the PEI generally advised against donating for eight weeks immediately after SARS-CoV-2 infections, there are no restrictions for people who have been vaccinated against the Corona virus.
Montana: Vaccine donation ban debate
In Montana, Republican Greg Kmetz is therefore calling for a ban on blood donations from mRNA vaccinees and people with “Long Covid”. A corresponding bill was introduced on February 17: It proposes a misdemeanor for anyone who knowingly donates whole blood, plasma, blood products, blood derivatives, human tissue, organs or bones containing “gene-modifying proteins, nanoparticles, high-count spike proteins by Long Covid-19 or other isolates [enthalten]introduced by mRNA or DNA vaccines, mRNA or DNA chemotherapy, or other novel pharmaceutical mRNA or DNA biotechnology.”
Kmetz’s move is backed by several other Republicans. “Many of my constituents are wondering, just because we hear those two words ‘safe and effective’ more than a million times, does that make it true?” Kmetz argued in a hearing, noting that he politically represents all those, including them ensure the safety of blood supplies. Other supporters pointed to the risk of blood clots from vaccinations or stated that everyone should have the right to blood that has not been genetically modified, so that in emergency situations one does not have to worry about possible negative effects of the donation.
Without blood from vaccinated people, there were hardly any donations left
However, the bill in question (House Bill 645) is also provoking opposition. Organizations like Vitalant, which operates 120 blood centers across the US, warn that such a law would shrink Montana’s blood supplies by up to 80 percent. The head of the Vitalant Research Institute goes even further and warns that more than 90 percent of the current donors have been vaccinated or at least have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The Chief Medical Officer of the American Red Cross in the western United States also speaks of a proportion of “vaccinated” blood donations of 80 percent: He is referring specifically to the vaccination rate in the state, where 80 percent of citizens have received at least one Covid vaccination. The draft law endangers people’s lives because of the resulting lack of donor blood, one criticizes.
Independent studies are needed that use large samples to investigate how long vaccine mRNA can be detected in the blood of those who have been vaccinated and how great the risk is for recipients to actually suffer typical side effects of vaccination after the donation. However, there is little interest in such studies in established science – which is why Kmetz may have formulated the draft law particularly broadly. Some find it too far and at least recommend a more precise definition of Long Covid patients who should be excluded from donations. Some also doubt the feasibility: At most, one could include the question of the vaccination status in the questionnaire for donors, but there are no tests that would properly verify this information.
Whether Kmetz’ draft law will actually be implemented is extremely questionable, if only because of the impending shortage. However, it is positive that the lack of clarity regarding the whereabouts of vaccine mRNA in the body of vaccinated people and the resulting health risks (also for recipients of blood, plasma and organ donations) are again drawn attention to: The pressure and sooner or later there will still be more independent investigations. However, anyone who is dependent on blood donations should hardly be able to avoid blood from vaccinated people, not only in the USA.