JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services encourages people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 to make an unpaid, voluntary donation of plasma.

The purpose is to help COVID-19 patients.

“Recently, I was on part of a virtual town hall regarding COVID-19, and a participant exemplified the spirit of so many Missourians when he stated that he wanted to help,” Dr. Randall Williams, Department of Health and Senior Services director, said. “It turns out that he has recovered from COVID-19 and wants to donate his plasma to help those who are severely ill. We greatly appreciate the generosity he’s shown and of all those who have been fortunate to recover and choose to help others do the same.”

Historically, convalescent plasma is used to prevent or treat new viral diseases, when other treatments or vaccines are not available. People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that have the potential to work against the virus.

The plasma obtained from the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 is being evaluated as treatment for hospitalized patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections, or those judged by a health care provider to be at high risk of progression to severe or life-threatening disease. Blood specimens also may be used to better understand patients’ immune responses to COVID-19 to assist development of new therapies and vaccines.

Those who are fully recovered from a verified coronavirus diagnosis can contact the health care institution in their area to be evaluated for eligibility. Eligible candidates are those who:

• Are over the age of 18 years,

• Are not pregnant,

• Have had a previous positive COVID-19 test and

• Have been free from COVID-19 symptoms for at least 14 days.