Almost 70 percent of blood donors have antibodies against corona in their blood

Of the Dutch blood donors, 69.5 percent now have antibodies against the corona virus in their blood, blood bank Sanquin reports. The blood bank’s research department checks about 2000 blood samples every month for antibodies against the virus.

A month ago, this percentage was still 54 percent. “Vaccination is the main driving force behind this increase,” explains Sanquin.

Antibodies are also in the blood if someone has had a corona infection. Sanquin can use tests to determine whether the antibodies against the virus arise from vaccination or from infection. Of the blood donors over the age of 70 whose blood has now been examined in more detail, almost everyone has antibodies in their blood: 88 percent from vaccination and 10 percent from a previous infection.

‘Vaccination strategy clearly visible’

In donors between the ages of 61 and 70, 77 percent have antibodies due to vaccination and 16 percent through infection. In the youngest age group, from 18 to 30 years, only 43 percent have antibodies against corona in the blood. In half of the cases this is due to vaccination, the other half of the youngest donors has contracted the virus once.

“The vaccination strategy is clearly reflected in the subdivision by age,” Sanquin summarizes the results. After all, it has been pricked from old to young.

Delta variant on the rise

According to the blood bank, it is not possible to say exactly what percentage of people must have antibodies to suppress the circulation of the corona virus. To achieve this so-called herd immunity, this will have to be a higher percentage than before the extra contagious variants of the virus emerged, such as the delta variant. That variant, which was previously called the Indian variant, causes an increasing share of the infections.

Sanquin only deals with adults, because minors cannot donate blood. This is allowed from the age of 18. It has not yet been decided whether young people are also eligible for vaccination. The Health Council is still working on an advisory report on this. It is scheduled to be released at the end of this month. The cabinet is waiting for that.

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By: Bert van Doorn

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