It has been reported that, in Illinois, blood donors are required to disclose their covid vaccination status. Check out the following reports about this below.
Disclosing covid vaccination status
Illinois may soon pass new legislation that would provide individuals who receive blood donations with information on whether the donor has been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine or another messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. The proposed bill, labeled HB4243, was introduced on November 29th by Illinois State Representative Jed Davis. If passed, the bill would amend the Illinois Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank Act, requiring blood banks to test donated blood for evidence of COVID-19 vaccines and other mRNA components, including lipid nanoparticles and spike proteins.
As part of the donor screening process, individuals will be asked to disclose if they have ever received a COVID-19 vaccine or any other mRNA vaccine.
The bill also mandates that blood or blood components that test positive for evidence of a COVID-19 vaccine or other mRNA vaccine component, or were obtained from a donor who received a COVID-19 vaccine or other mRNA vaccine, must be labeled accordingly.
“A constituent approached me concerned about her son’s upcoming surgery. What if he needed a blood transfusion with the long-term impacts concerning mRNA vaccines unknown? As a parent myself, her concern and corresponding question feel warranted,” Mr. Davis told The Epoch Times in an email.
“This conversation was the catalyst for my bill delineating blood donations and mRNA vaccines. We disclose medical information all the time with providers, so why not our vaccine history? It’s an easy ask, and I’m proud to sponsor this bill.”
In Illinois, when a bill is proposed, it is initially read and referred to the Rules Committee. After that, it is assigned to a substantive committee. For elected officials such as Mr. Davis, they believe that part of their job is to convert the ideas and concerns of constituents into legislation when appropriate.
Mr. Davis thinks that every bill, including the one related to HB4243, has originated from someone who has visited his office. “I find helping people to be a blessing and an honor,” he said without any hesitation.
A Republican lawmaker in Montana had introduced a bill earlier this year that aimed to criminalize anyone who received a COVID-19 vaccine and donated tissue or blood.
The bill came under scrutiny for its misdemeanor offense and was quickly tabled in a 19-1 vote.
However, unlike the Montana bill, HB4243 does not criminalize individuals who donate blood if they have been vaccinated.
It simply mandates that blood banks include information about whether the blood came from a vaccinated donor on the label of their products. This allows patients to make informed decisions when receiving blood products.
