Editorial: Blood donations slipping due to pandemic

January 13 , 2021

The number of people donating blood has been decreasing during the pandemic. There were nearly 30,000 fewer blood donors in Tokyo alone between April to November 2020 versus the same eight-month period in 2019. And since blood cannot be stored for an extended duration, a constant source of blood must be donated in order to ensure proper healthcare.

Among the reasons for the shortfall: people staying at home during the voluntary lockdown and concerns over coronavirus infection at blood donation centers. In addition, mobile “blood buses” customarily targeted younger donors by visiting concerts and other large public events, but these have since been cancelled.

One way around this is to develop public awareness campaigns to encourage people to donate blood. The Japanese Red Cross (JRC), the only organization approved by the government to collect donated blood, has kicked off once such campaign, this one targeting young people who turn 20 from January 11, celebrating the Coming of Age Day in Japan.

Not that people must adults to donate blood. High school boys and girls can do so from 17 and 18, respectively. While these minors are limited to donating 400 milliliters of blood, even 16-year-olds, regardless of gender, can offer up to 200 milliliters—a fact that few Japanese are cognizant of.

The key, then, is to develop enticing and effective PR tools to expand the blood donor net. JRC explains that donating blood is an essential activity exempt from the limited lockdown protocols. Blood buses, in fact, have begun visiting high schools seeking donors; even national legislators and Diet staffers are donating blood.

In Japan, the message for more blood must be communicated to a broader audience than ever.