Growing Trend of ‘Unvaccinated Blood’ Requests Raises Health Concerns

An alarming trend is emerging in medical facilities across the country as patients increasingly request blood transfusions specifically from donors who haven’t received COVID-19 vaccines, according to new research published in the medical journal Transfusion.

The study, conducted by Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, found that these requests can lead to delayed care and potentially compromise patient health outcomes, with no scientific evidence supporting any safety benefits from using “unvaccinated blood.”

During a two-year period between 2024 and 2025, Vanderbilt recorded 15 cases where patients specifically requested blood from unvaccinated donors. The median age of these patients was 17, with over half being children. In 13 of these cases, patients ultimately received blood through “direct donation” from family members—a practice that introduces its own set of risks.

“Despite being framed as ‘safer,’ directed donations may paradoxically increase risk,” the researchers noted in their findings. They explained that first-time donors, which most direct donors are, tend to have blood that’s more likely to contain potentially harmful pathogens.

The consequences of these requests proved serious in some cases. Two patients who refused standard blood transfusions experienced significant health deterioration—one developed anemia, a condition characterized by insufficient healthy red blood cells, while another suffered hemodynamic shock, a potentially life-threatening condition where inadequate blood flow deprives tissues of oxygen and can lead to organ failure.

Medical experts emphasize there is currently no process for determining whether donated blood comes from vaccinated or unvaccinated donors. “There’s no test that exists,” explained Diane Calmus, vice president of government affairs for America’s Blood Centers in Washington, D.C.

The surge in such requests began following the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, presenting what researchers describe as a “recurring challenge for transfusion services and clinicians.” These demands create inefficiencies in the healthcare system and can lead to treatment delays at critical moments when time matters most.

“Regulatory and professional organizations have opposed these non-evidence-based policies,” the researchers stated, “emphasizing that blood centers do not record or convey donor COVID-19 vaccination status and that evidence demonstrates transfusion from vaccinated donors poses no unique risk.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, who was not involved in the research, attributed these requests to what he calls “an ongoing fear culture.” He pointed out the practical difficulties in testing for vaccine status in blood, noting that “antibodies may be positive from COVID itself as well as the vaccine, and it can be difficult to tell the difference.”

The political dimension of this issue has manifested in several state legislatures, with some proposing laws that would allow patients to receive blood specifically from unvaccinated donors. Oklahoma went so far as to propose creating a state-run blood bank dedicated to collecting and distributing unvaccinated blood. However, none of these measures have been enacted into law.

Calmus emphasized that requests for direct donations remain “exceedingly rare,” representing only about 0.06% of the U.S. blood supply. She acknowledged that patients and families often seek these alternatives during frightening medical situations but stressed the importance of consulting with transfusion medicine specialists who can provide accurate information about blood safety.

The process for direct donation is not simple, Calmus noted. “Blood has to be prescribed. You can’t just show up at the blood center and say, ‘I would like my sister to donate for me.’ There needs to be a prescription. It needs to go through the hospital… they need to make sure it is the right blood for the right patient.”

Researchers recommend that healthcare systems establish standardized policies to handle these types of requests, balancing patient autonomy with medical best practices and safety considerations.

The study did acknowledge certain limitations, including its small sample size and the fact that it only included cases where special blood donations reached the blood bank, potentially undercounting the total number of such requests. It also did not include situations where concerns were resolved through physician conversations or ethics consultations.

In her closing remarks, Calmus emphasized the critical ongoing need for blood donors of all types. “We need people – vaccinated or not vaccinated – to show up and donate blood, because it is the blood on the shelves that saves lives.”