Fewer regular donors during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the smallest donor base in a decade.
That’s according to Canadian Blood Services.
Chief supply chain officer and vice-president of donor relations, Rick Prinzen, says this has stalled efforts to replenish a critically low national blood inventory.
Prinzen stresses they need 100,000 new donors alone to catch up.
He says, “The number of people across Canada who donate regularly has decreased by 31,000 donors since the start of the pandemic, which has put a strain on the existing donor community. Many of our regular donors already donate multiple times a year. We are grateful for the donors who have continued to support patients.”
Prinzen adds not only do they need to recruit more donors; the organization needs to build a more diverse donor base in order to meet complex and underserved patient needs.
The closest place to give blood is the CBS office in Winnipeg.
