Maybe.
After recovering from COVID-19 infection, Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson famously donated their convalescent plasma.
People who have recovered from coronavirus produce a specific antibody that can attack the virus. When their plasma is transfused to a person who is ill due to the COVID-19 virus, it may improve the chances of recovery, prevent the viral infection from worsening, or even save the life of the person with the virus.
This means our members– and Tom, Rita, and anyone else who has recovered from COVID-19 – are in a unique position to help others. Kaiser Permanente Southern California has begun regionwide outreach to members who have recovered from COVID-19, encouraging them to volunteer to donate convalescent plasma for use in patient care.
KPSC has been actively using convalescent plasma in our medical centers. We have transfused over 200 units over the last 2 months and continue to enroll patients daily through the Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 Expanded Access program.
If you or someone you know has recovered from COVID-19, here’s how you can be like Tom, and maybe save a life.
