U.S. Surgeon General Open Letter to Higher Education Leaders

Published by Kirby Winn on Thursday, January 14, 2021 in News Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Citing the nationwide increase in COVID-19 infections, the U.S. Surgeon General has issued an open letter to colleges and universities across the country urging their support for COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) donation. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, writes that increasing infection rates is leading to a massive spike in demand for CCP. “That demand is quickly approaching 30,000 units per week,” writes Adams. “Currently we are on par for collecting 30,000 units/week, but with increasing demand, it becomes more challenging to support the need. Current collections may not meet the demand as cases continue to rise exponentially over the next several weeks.”

• Open Letter from U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH

Additionally, on Wed., Jan. 13, the New England Journal of Medicine published a retrospective study on the effectiveness of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma as a treatment for patients with a COVID-19 infection. The study is accompanied by an editorial written by Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Louis M. Katz, MD.

The New England Journal of Medicine has published a retrospective study on the effectiveness of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma as a treatment for patients with a COVID-19 infection. The study is accompanied by an editorial written by Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Louis M. Katz, MD. (See links to NEJM content, below.)

• NEJM - “Convalescent Plasma Antibody Levels and the Risk of Death from Covid-19”
• NEJM - “(A Little) Clarity on Convalescent Plasma for Covid-19” (Louis M. Katz, MD)

To schedule a donation, potential donors who have had a positive test for COVID-19 infection may use the referral form at www.bloodcenter.org/cp or by calling (833) 610-1025.

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