3 May 2021 the covid situation in the entire world and especially in India is worsening. Last year the covid was just a threat to life because of its undiscovered nature and its infection possibilities.
This year, though we know a lot about the virus and the infection, we are still in a red sirened period where this pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 3.19 Million people all around the world and 2,16,000 in India.
The two vaccines COVIESHIELD and COVAXIN are in the race to develope immunity against the covid-19 virus. Vaccines provide artificial active immunity to disease. Vaccines do not make you sick, but they can trick your body into believing it has a disease, so it can fight the disease.
Photo by Unsplash
Though the vaccination is carried out in India on a large scale, it is still a long period for the entire country to get vaccinated with the double dose.
According to the latest report of Our World In Data up to the 1st of May, 9.2% of the total Indian population has been vaccinated with a single dose and only 2% of the population with a double dose.
There are nearly 16 million patients who are recovered completely from covid infection yet in India.
The number is huge and so is their immune ability. This ability of covid recovered patients can be of great use for the ones who are currently or may (in future) be infected. how? Let us see.
PLASMA
Plasma is a straw-colored liquid part of the blood.
When the RBCs, WBCs, Platelets, and other components of blood are removed, the remaining liquid is called the Plasma.
The antibodies present in the plasma are of great importance in the case of immunity. You can say that the antibodies are the soldiers of our body.
WHAT IS THE PLASMA THERAPY?
Plasma therapy was discovered by E.M.Behring in 1890.
It was first used on a large scale during the Spanish Flu Pandemic.
In 2014, WHO recommended the use of plasma therapy for the Ebola virus disease.
Now the plasma therapy is seen to be a comparatively effective therapy against the covid also. The blood of the recovered person is used to extract the immune plasma and transfer it to the infected one to boost his/her immunity.
The RBCs are again returned to the body.
HOW THE PLASMA IS EXTRACTED FROM THE BLOOD?
The plasma is extracted by using a machine called a Plasmapheresis Machine.
Photo of Plasma Donor
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED FOR THE PROCEDURE?
It takes only 90 to 100 minutes for the entire procedure. The testing of blood for any kind of disease, hypertension, and required antibodies may take more time.
IS THIS PROCEDURE SAFE?
This procedure is totally safe for both donor and receiver if done under proper supervision. The donor is not in the contact with the patient so there is no threat of infection to the donor.
The donor should keep a sanitizer bottle and always keep mask on when going out of the home.
HOW MUCH PLASMA IS TAKEN FROM THE DONOR'S BODY?
A total of 400 ml plasma is taken from the donor.
This donated plasma is again reconstructed in the donor's body within few hours.
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE CAN DONATE PLASMA?
After a period of 43 to 45 days after testing positive, the donor can start donating plasma.
The donor can donate plasma after a gap of 15 days each time.
WHO CAN'T DONATE PLASMA?
The following people can not plasma
1) Diabetic or on insulin.
2) Diastolic BP less than 60mmHg-Greater than 90mmHg or Systolic BP greater than 140mmHg.
3) Cancer patient
4) Any patient with Chronic kidney/heart/lung/liver disease.
5) Any woman who has undergone pregnancy.
WHO CAN DONATE PLASMA?
The following people can donate plasma
1) Age 18 to 60 years
2) Weight more than 50kg
3) Fully recovered from covid for at least 14 days.
I JUST HAVE TAKEN THE VACCINE, CAN I DONATE PLASMA?
YES! You can donate plasma after a span of a month after vaccination.
There are very few moments in the life every person in which he or she gets a chance to help the needy. Even its a really Thin on the ground moment when we get a chance to help a medically serious patient in our life.
Every drop of plasma is important for the immunity of the patient, so if you are just recovered from the infection, please do donate your 400ml of plasma.
According my information, out of this 400ml plasma, 200ml is donated to one patient and remaining 200ml is to another patient.
Sometimes the whole 400mml amount is donated to single patient also, 200ml on a day and 200ml a day after.
If you are recovered from covid then it is chance to help someone who is struggling currently in the ICU or Critical health care unit.
following are the websites where you can find more information about plasma donation.
For the patients and wishing donors in pune, the information about Jan Kalyan Blood bank is given below :