Important information regarding the COVID-vaccine and blood donation

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) welcomes the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine and is providing blood donor eligibility guidance to ensure the continued safe collection of blood and blood products.

For blood donors who have received a vaccination, there is some important information that is essential to know before your next donation.  

Key things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine and blood donation:

• Donors need to know the name of the vaccine manufacturer they have received e.g. Pfizer BioNTech. Donors are asked to make a note of the vaccine type and when they received it or bring a record if possible.
• This information is vital to determine if a donor is eligible to donate or requires a 28-day deferral period.
• Donors can contact their health professional who administered the vaccine and request this information.
• If a donor does not know what vaccine they received, then a 28-day deferral period will be automatically applied (from the date of the last vaccination).
• Donors who received a vaccine that requires no stand down period, which includes Pfizer BioNTech, are asked to wait 12 hours before donating, as long as there is no inflammation or infection at the vaccination site.
• Donors who experience ANY side effects e.g. rash, headache, muscle fatigue, fever please postpone and reschedule their donation until they are in good health.

Why is there a longer stand down period for some vaccines?

• The 28-day waiting period for live-attenuated vaccine is due to patient safety consideration. This is because blood from a recently vaccinated donor may contain residual vaccine which may theoretically pose a risk to patients who are immune-suppressed or immunocompromised such as cancer patients. 

Information for donors vaccinated overseas:

• There is a minimum 28-day travel stand down period for anyone returning from overseas regardless of their vaccination status. However, donors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine overseas, are asked to review the updated list of current vaccines by name and manufacturer and associated deferral periods on the NZBS website, and provide the relevant information before their next donation.

 Background on vaccine types

At the time of writing the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine that has received Medsafe approval in New Zealand.  This is an inactive or mRNA based COVID-19 vaccine that requires no deferral period before donating blood.

All vaccines that are made from ‘live’ material require a 28-day deferral period before donating. It is important to note that these mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19. 

For further information and up -to-date information of current vaccines by name and manufacturer and associated deferral periods, please visit our website.

If you have a donation scheduled and have received a COVID-19 vaccine, please review the guidance at www.nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD to determine eligibility prior to donating.

The need for blood and blood products in New Zealand is constant, NZBS needs to collect over 3,500 units of blood and plasma every week to meet demand.