'Our children need that blood to live': Donors, recipients upset after Canadian blood services lift mask mandate

Joanne Benoit called Canada Blood Services Wednesday to say the organization lifted COVID-1 I canceled my October blood donation schedule after learning about the- 19 Mask Obligation.

"I think they should reverse it — today — and apologize."

Benoit, half-retired from Shaw Communications and volunteering for The Mission, took the plunge in January after hearing that Arnprior's 8-year-old boy, Easton Harris, was suffering from regenerative disorders. I resumed donating blood regularly. He had encouraged blood donations through Easton's Hockey Fight for Life campaign. and most recently on July 25, the same day CBS announced mask mandates and physical distancing moratorium without prior warning.

"I was in the middle of donating blood," recalled Benoit. Ask about it. Then I saw on Twitter that they had removed the mask mandate.

The next day she posted on social media. Ask for proof of vaccination," she tweeted. "The majority of people who are fully vaccinated do not guarantee donor and worker protection.

Others have expressed similar concerns, with many suggesting that the change would deter donors at times when blood supplies are dangerously low. According to CBS, there are only three days' worth of O positives and O. In August alone, more than 50,000 reservations were unfilled.

But the donor's frustration pales in comparison to the recipient's frustration: anger and helplessness.

I find it very difficult to keep quiet because it depends on my generosity," said Kelly McKibbin of Ottawa, whose daughter Hilary also has aplastic anemia. I am very concerned about the possibility that Hillary will relapse unless she comes to the hospital.”

McKibbin says he is in daily contact with CBS but is weighing his options. He said he did not receive any response other than to say that

"I am also a blood donor," McKibbin said.

"We ask Canada's blood services every day to I'm trying to convey that this is not what people want."

Easton Harris' mother, Amanda Harris, agrees. Ever since CBS changed her Musk policy, she's heard many donors are canceling reservations.

"It's heartbreaking that they've taken away the mask mandate. And not just Easton, but all the kids I see at CHEO, and a lot of adults." I understand some people don't want to wear masks it's their choice but for someone whose son is immunocompromised...our children need that blood to live

McKibbin also noted that CBS announced in June that it had suspended processing and storage of cord blood for three months due to a shortage of processing kits. Concerned. Cord blood collection is supported by

Mekki MacAulay, executive director of Donate a Mask Project Canada, a nonprofit charity that distributes free N95 masks. COVID-19 test kits have provided masks to CBS in case the CBS policy change is for financial reasons, which he highly doubts. 106}

He called the change "dangerous" for donors and nurses who are now likely to spread COVID, and for recipients whose health may be at risk. I'm explaining.

Furthermore, he believes the decision was made to appeal to anti-Maskers. He describes them as fringe his minority with big loudspeakers.

"They don't really represent what most Canadians want," Macaulay said. "So I think it's a terrible policy. I don't think they think this through. Maybe people wonder about other security policies."

Canadian Blood Services declined the request for an interview and instead provided a boilerplate statement that failed to address the concerns of the prospective donor. Monitor epidemiology and scientific knowledge and reintroduce mandatory masks and physical distancing where appropriate.

McKibbin believes CBS's new policy is doomed to failure.

"They asked for new donors, but they didn't create a safe environment for donors to go and donate," she said. “People who donated were left on the side of the road. That's what CBS should do."