Due to a recent blood shortage in Taiwan, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) called on the public to donate blood in a post on her Facebook page on Monday.
In the post, Hsiao shared a photo of herself donating blood at a blood center and emphasized the ongoing need for public support. She also noted that blood donation centers across the country will remain open during the Lunar New Year holiday, encouraging people to donate before heading out to celebrate or enjoy a meal, ensuring that others can also stay healthy.
According to the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation (TBSF), the national blood supply is currently sufficient for only five and a half days, with blood types A, B, and O at critically low levels.
The TBSF launched a blood donation campaign at the end of last year, running through January 27, the day before Lunar New Year's Eve. The goal was to increase the blood supply to a 10-day stock to provide peace of mind for those in need during the holiday. However, the response to the campaign has been less than ideal.
The Taipei Blood Center’s Planning Section Chief Liu Chun-hung (劉俊宏) told CNA last Friday that the recent cold front has led to a rise in colds, coupled with the most severe flu outbreak in 10 years, both of which have significantly impacted blood donations. He emphasized the need for the public to donate blood in the coming days to help reach the target and avoid blood shortages during the holiday period.