Three Valley mayors and many first responders joined the nation’s largest independent blood provider Vitalant to celebrate the arrival in Phoenix of a nationwide convalescent plasma donation effort to combat COVID-19.

A news conference and blood drive was held Wednesday at the Phoenix Fire Department Training Academy to kick off the plasma donation initiative, which officials hope will provide lifesaving treatment for Valley residents critically ill with COVID-19.

The initiative is part of Operation Warp Speed, the federal government’s program aiming to deliver 300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021 and accelerate the development of other therapeutics and diagnostics. 

Mayors Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Jerry Weiers of Glendale and Corey Woods of Tempe were among the speakers to encourage members of the public to donate.

“This is a promising tool, and although not a cure, it has helped many people overcome the virus and recover,” said Gallego.

A lifesaving initiative

Phoenix was chosen as one of 14 metropolitan areas nationwide to take part in the effort. While Vitalant began collecting donations of convalescent plasma, the liquid part of blood that contains the antibodies to fight off COVID-19, in mid-April, Wednesday marked an effort to double the number of donations in the Valley. 

The use of plasma from survivors to treat those sick with the same illness goes back more than a century and has been used to stem outbreaks of polio, measles, mumps and influenza. The project comes as a collaboration of Valley donation centers, hospitals and city health departments.

“Convalescent plasma is currently the only antibody therapy available outside of clinical studies,” said Dr. Ralph Vassallo, Vitalant’s chief medical and scientific officer. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization in August for plasma as treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 after more than 70,000 patients received it on an experimental basis.

“It can be used for patients with severe active COVID-19 to give them that extra boost to help fight the infection,” said Vassallo.

“Vitalant passionately supports evidence-based decision-making and is part of critical COVID-19 research through our Vitalant Research Institute,” read a letter from David Green, president and CEO of Vitalant.

Tempe mayor who had COVID-19 donates plasma

To date, Vitalant has collected 35,000 units of plasma nationwide and 4,600 units in the Valley. A total of 6,200 units have been distributed in Arizona.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods volunteered to kick off the blood drive and be the first to donate plasma.

Woods, a COVID-19 survivor himself, was eager to do his part and donate to the community, especially for the Valley’s first responders, a group at high risk of exposure to the virus.

“These are people who are putting their lives on the line every day, and donating is the least that we can do to honor their service,” said Woods.

“More than 300 fire and police employees have recovered from COVID-19, and they are continuing to serve by taking part in these lifesaving efforts,” said Gallego.

Senior Master Sgt. Amanda Layton came from Luke Air Force Base to donate plasma at the event. 

“I heard that for each person who donates equates to being able to help four people,” said Layton. “If there’s an opportunity for us to help those who need it, it’s more than worth it.”

Who can donate?

Any member of the public who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has since recovered is encouraged to apply to donate plasma to provide active antibodies to members of the community who need it most.

“I know some people don’t like being around needles, but I can say that it’s not painful at all,” said Woods. “I promise the toughest part is keeping your arm straight for 45 minutes!”

Most centers use technology that separates the plasma from the blood, then pumps that blood back into the donor.

To donate, patients must meet eligibility requirements, including:

• A prior laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, either by a positive swab test or a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
• Must be symptom-free for at least 28 days.
• Must meet all additional FDA requirements for automated plasma donations.

People interested in donating must first apply at http://learn.vitalant.org/convalescentplasma.

Reach breaking news reporter Salma Reyes at [email protected] or on Twitter @r_salma_.

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