Vitalant, which supplies donated blood to more than 900 hospitals across the U.S, including nearly 50 in the Northern California area, has announced that it has a critical blood shortage. The nonprofit organization is urging all eligible donors to make an appointment now to give at any of its nearly 120 donation centers or a community drive to replenish the blood supply in the coming days and weeks.
Sacramento iHeartMedia and Vitalant are co-sponsoring a blood drive happening in the Sacramento area this week to address the critical need for blood amid shortages. The drive is happening Thursday June 24th and Friday June 25th from 12 noon until 6pm each day at the Marketplace at Birdcage in Citrus Heights located at 6177 Sunrise Blvd. Click here to make an appointment or call (877) 258 - 4825. If you are unable to make the drive, it is encouraged you make an appointment to go into a local blood bank or find another drive that works better. To learn more and schedule an appointment to donate, please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Those who received a Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine can give blood immediately if other eligibility requirements are met.
Vitalant Communications Director Victoria Wolfe address some of the main concerns with the blood shortage:
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