Wyoming Lawmaker Proposes Bill Requiring COVID-Vaccinated Blood Donations to be Labeled
Wyoming State Representative Sarah Penn has recently sponsored a bill that would mandate the labeling of all blood donations from COVID-vaccinated individuals. The proposed bill, known as House Bill 24-115, would allow individuals to reject these labeled blood donations in non-emergency situations, according to Cowboy State Daily.
Rep. Penn explained her motivation behind the bill, stating, "For various reasons, many people have purposefully strived to keep the mRNA therapies out of their bodies, even to the point that some lost their livelihoods. Their concerns are warranted." She believes that some individuals have genuine concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines and should have the option to refuse blood from vaccinated donors.
The skepticism surrounding vaccinated blood donations stems from the belief of some individuals that the vaccine is somehow "tainted" and linked to health issues such as strokes and blood clots.
Recent reports are that some anti-vaxxers have been refusing potentially life-saving blood transfusions from vaccinated donors due to these fears. In response to this situation, Rep. Penn's bill aims to address the concerns of these individuals by providing better monitoring and allowing them to have a choice in non-emergent transfusions.
It is important to note that current guidelines for blood donation after COVID-19 vaccination vary, ranging from no deferral to up to 28 days, depending on health organizations. With approximately 70 percent of the U.S. population vaccinated, implementing this bill could lead to reduced access to blood donations for Wyoming residents.
While the Red Cross recently declared a blood shortage emergency, it does not collect blood in Wyoming. Therefore, its blood supply would not be directly affected by this proposed legislation.
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Despite the potential benefits Rep. Penn sees in this bill, it is unlikely to pass the state House due to concerns over medical privacy and the additional workload it would create for healthcare providers. However, she remains resolute in her defense of the bill, emphasizing that it provides better monitoring and allows individuals to exercise choice in non-emergency situations.
A similar bill proposed by Montana State Representative Greg Kmetz last year, which aimed to ban blood donations from COVID-19-vaccinated individuals, did not progress beyond the committee stage.
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