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AABB to Host Free Educational Program on Vaccination and Blood Donation Policy

November 26, 2024

AABB invites health care professionals to join a one-hour educational program designed to address challenges to critical blood donation safety policies. 

This free program will discuss potential policy proposals for labeling “mRNA-free donations” and requiring patient consent for transfusions involving donors vaccinated with mRNA or self-amplifying RNA vaccines. These proposals rely on unapproved testing methods that do not meet FDA regulations for blood donor testing. 

Participants will hear from:

  • Claudia Cohn, MD, PhD, chief medical officer, AABB.

  • Susan N. Leppke, MPH, senior director, public policy & strategic partnerships, AABB.

  • Cliff Numark, senior vice president, donor services, chief of marketing, Vitalant

In addition, the program will discuss how blood and blood components labeled with donor vaccination status are misbranded and in violation of Section 502(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Such practices could compromise public trust in the blood supply and are not supported by evidence or medical necessity.

Participants will gain insight into the scientific evidence confirming the safety of blood donations from vaccinated individuals and the negligible risk of vaccine components in transfusions. The program will also examine the implications of unnecessarily restrictive policies and provide tools to support evidence-based advocacy.

The program will take place 3-4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Registration is complimentary but required to attend.