Lesotho Blood Transfusion Services’ Principal Laboratory Technologist, Mr. Khotso Kalake says, it is not true that vaccinated people cannot donate blood however, they have to wait for at least four weeks depending on the type of vaccine they received.

Kalake said vaccination is similar to any other medication that can be administered to a patient, with the expectation that after some time, the medication would be worn out.

He said people are allowed to donate blood as long as they  have received one of the four approved vaccines in the country, which are AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Sino pharm.

He pointed out that people who are not allowed to donate blood are those who have tested positive for COVID-19 with or without symptoms in the last 14 days, have self-quarantined in the last 14 days, had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days, and if they have side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, they must wait until they subside.