House Bill 131 would have mandated a donor to disclose their Covid-19 mRNA vaccination status prior to donating blood. The recipient could then request that information before receiving a donation. It died in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee.
According to one legislator, the Red Cross gave a presentation and reported that testing for a Covid-19 vaccine in a donated unit could not be done but did not mention anything about a donor’s disclosure on vaccination status. According to the Red Cross, a donor is asked on the form if they received a Covid-19 vaccination at the time of donation and to provide the records on that vaccination.
Beginning on page 3, the Senate Health & Welfare Committee did meet with a representatives, one from the Hospital Association who declared the bill would “exacerbate shortage challenges, and negatively impact patient care”, and would “require creating new conceptions of informed consent and create storage issues”.
The Regional Director of Vitalent Blood Centers stated testing could not be done to distinguish vaccinated blood from infectious, that it was impractical to label blood on self-disclosed information, and that processing and storage expenses would be an issue. Oddly, he did say that “Requiring donors to disclose vaccination status without public health benefit would deter donation and perpetuate the incorrect belief that vaccinated blood was harmful.”
The American Red Cross representative stated donated blood was regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), that “Each question asked of a donor was verified by testing”, and the “FDA would need to approve the added question”. According to the Red Cross website, Covid-19 vaccination status is proven by verification of vaccination, The American Red Cross of Idaho CEO stated, “scientific evidence confirmed mRNA vaccines were safe.”
The FDA does address the issue of non-covid vaccinated blood, implying that reports of vaccinated blood not being safe is misinformation. § 606.121 identifies label requirements on donated blood and Covid-19 vaccination status is not included. So why does the American Red Cross even ask the question?
After further discussion, the bill failed to pass the committee.
There is legitimate concern regarding this issue, receiving blood from a Covid-19 vaccinated donor. According to this 2025 study, there were no adverse effects from vaccinated blood donations but studies on this issue are very limited. However, a recent study demonstrated that mRNA vaccines can lead to “long-term changes in genetic structures that can provoke an inflammatory response, and lead to the onset of cancer and autoimmune disorders.” Other studies confirm these findings. The question that is not answered is whether or not those problems can be passed on through donated blood, indicating the need for further research. Many professionals have raised similar concerns.
As a reminder, another study lead to concerns that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is pathogenic and “that widely biodistributed spike proteins, produced by mRNA and adenovector DNA gene codes, induce a wide variety of diseases.”
Idahoans have a legitimate concerns about receiving donated blood from Covid-19 vaccinated donors, and they are not alone. This should continue to be an issue in the next legislative session. However, it might take more intervention at the federal level before anything will change.
2 replies on “Reviewing HB 131”
Might not be a bad idea to keep a list of unvaccinated friends and family who would be willing to donate blood should it be needed. If given the chance (and I would have a family member prepared to voice my concerns just in case) I would call on them at the time so I KNOW any donated blood would be pure. That is…IF one could trust the medical facility.
This is a tough one. Few studies showing negative or positive effects. One thing I do know, though, and that is that, if I’m in an ER bleeding out, as long as the blood received is compatible based on current standards, I’ll take it. I am experiencing, first hand, many of the long-term auto-immune problems that can come from having COVID-19. Few organ systems are exempt from negative effects, maybe none. Actuaries tell us that, because of COVID-19 the average life expectancy of a white American has gone down by 2 years, persons of color, 3 years. Again, too few studies, but the ones coming out are anything but positive. I guess, for now, it’s “hide and watch”.