Austin-Area Blood Bank Seeks Coronavirus Survivors' Plasma
AUSTIN, TX — We Are Blood — the exclusive provider of blood, platelets and convalescent plasma to more than 40 Central Texas hospitals and medical centers in Central Texas — is collecting convalescent plasma donations to treat patients at afflicted with the coronavirus at local hospitals, officials said Thursday.
To that end, the regional blood bank has recruited celebrities to help spread the word — including Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel and Bob Cole of KOKE-FM. The luminaries have taken center stage for a multimedia campaign produced on a pro bono basis by Steve Laukhuf, CEO of One Voice Communications, to encourage those who have recovered from the virus to donate convalescent plasma in the fight against COVID-19.
The campaign comprising ad spots across the media spectrum — television, radio, print and digital media — set to feature COVID-19 survivors as centerpiece. Benson and Cole are cast as supporting players for the important messaging, along with a host of other familiar faces — Aaron Franklin of Franklin’s BBQ and Daniel Morales of KEYE-Telemundo among them, officials said in an advisory. The campaign will also air in Spanish featuring musical artist Rick Trevino, officials noted.
The campaign will begin with spots on KVUE, FOX 7, CBS Austin, Telemundo and more on Dec. 3. We Are Blood officials encourage everyone to share the videos (available on YouTube in English and Spanish) with friends and family to increase awareness for the need of convalescent plasma donors during the pandemic.
“As one of those fortunate individuals to recover from COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic, I’m humbled by the lifesaving impact that can be made by donating convalescent plasma today,” Bob Cole said. “When I learned that We Are Blood was the sole provider of all blood donations to hospitals in Central Texas, it really hit home how those who donate convalescent plasma or regular blood donations would be helping friends and neighbors right here at home.”
As the COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise in Central Texas, We Are Blood officials said they are calling on recovered individuals to donate convalescent plasma donations for patients in need. To date, We Are Blood has provided convalescent plasma to more than 1,500 patients in Central Texas. Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have recovered without symptoms for at least 14 days can volunteer to donate by submitting the qualification form found at the blood bank's COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma portal.
To identify convalescent plasma donors among individuals who may not know they had COVID-19 or were asymptomatic, officials noted, all successful blood donations currently made at We Are Blood mobile drives and donor centers are tested for COVID-19 antibodies free of charge. Results may be viewed by donors seven days after their donation via the We Are Blood online donor portal, officials added. However, officials stressed that antibody tests cannot identify an active infection and those experiencing symptoms, or recently exposed to COVID-19, should not attempt to donate.
Apart from the convalescent plasma initiative, the need for blood donations continues — particularly in the midst of the holiday season when supply tends to drop historically. Healthy individuals can donate blood at We Are Blood’s three donor centers or mobile drives hosted across Central Texas, including upcoming holiday mall drives at Lakeline Mall and Barton Creek Square. Throughout the month of December, all donors will receive a voucher for a free Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit as an added incentive to donate.
“We are so grateful for Ray Benson and Bob Cole’s passionate commitment to motivating recovered individuals like themselves to donate convalescent plasma,” Marshall Cothran, CEO of We Are Blood, said in a prepared statement. “Their message, and those who respond to it, will make a lifesaving difference for Central Texans in need during this pandemic.”
Appointments at the centers or at mobile drives are mandatory and face coverings must be worn throughout the donation process. Check locations for hours and days of operation.
This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
