Canadian Blood Services says it is struggling to replenish a critically low national supply caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization says the virus that has persisted since March 2020 has resulted in the smallest donor base in a decade.
“The number of people across Canada who donate regularly has decreased by 31,000 donors since the start of the pandemic, which has put a strain on the existing donor community,” said Rick Prinzen, chief supply chain officer and vice-president of donor relations for Canadian Blood Services.
“Many of our regular donors already donate multiple times a year.”
The service oversees the inventory from which blood and blood products are regularly shifted around the country to meet hospital and patient needs….