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Need For Plasma From Recovered COVID Patients Still Great In Oklahoma

Courtesy Oklahoma Blood Institute
A patient donating convalescent plasma for COVID-19 at the Oklahoma Blood Institute headquarters in Oklahoma City on Tues., Dec. 1.

The Oklahoma Blood Institute is calling on Oklahomans who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma, which can be used in the treatment of those battling the disease in hospitals.

"Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) began collecting convalescent plasma in early April, as soon as it showed promise in treating patients suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19," the institute said in a release. "OBI is now distributing more than a thousand units per week to community hospitals.

"The earlier in their care that seriously ill COVID-19 patients receive convalescent plasma, the more likely they will see a better outcome. Convalescent plasma continues to be a critical treatment in the state’s response to COVID-19."

Gov. Kevin Stitt and INTEGRIS Health CEO Timothy Pehrson, both of whom contracted and subsequently recovered from COVID-19, donated plasma at OBI headquarters in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. This was Stitt's second donation of convalescent plasma since becoming the first known American governor to become infected with the coronavirus.

“We are incredibly grateful for Governor Stitt’s donation today, which will go to help patients like those getting state-of-the-art care in intensive care at INTEGRIS Health,” said John Armitage, president and CEO of OBI, in a statement. “We need as many strong voices as possible to encourage Oklahomans to donate this critical product so that we can get ahead of the surging demand and fight this pandemic that is so straining our hospitals, essential health care providers and first responders.”

Information on where and how to donate is available at the Oklahoma Blood Institute's website

Chris joined Public Radio Tulsa as a news anchor and reporter in April 2020. He’s a graduate of Hunter College and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, both at the City University of New York.
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