THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is an acute shortage of blood in blood banks as people are not reaching hospitals to donate blood in the wake of massive surge of Covid. The health workers are concerned that the situation could worsen once vaccination drive starts for those above 18.

Usually youths donate blood but after taking vaccine shots, blood cannot be donated immediately. They can donate blood only after 28 days of taking the shots. This will take at least three months. So, the health department is trying their best to collect enough blood before vaccination drive starts for those above 18.

Blood donation camps cannot be organized in the context of the spread of the disease. Many don’t come to donate blood for fear of being infected. Although doctors assured that the disease will not spread through blood donation, the situation worsens as the concerns of the people are not changing.