S.C Department of Health and Environmental Control URGING people to please donate blood and blood products – The Blood Connectionhas let us know how URGENT the need as they supply all of the Upstate hospitals as well as many others in both Carolinas and Georgia.

A local blood collection center is celebrating National Doctors’ Day Tuesday by giving back to frontline health care workers.

With the announcement of a third COVID-19 vaccine being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, blood donation organizations want the public to know that receiving the vaccine does not affect your eligibility to give blood.

Right now, there is a critical need for blood across the Carolinas. The Blood Connection, based in South Carolina, tells FOX 46 that they usually see a slowdown of donations this time of year, but the COVID-19 pandemic is making things worse.

Convalescent plasma therapy is not a new medical treatment. However its significance has grown recently as a valuable tool for patients currently fighting the coronavirus.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, blood and plasma collection centers are seeking donations from anyone who is eligible.