Every year, CERN organises several blood donation sessions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the session scheduled for 1 April 2020 was cancelled. Nonetheless, blood donation needs to continue at all times, and the various organisations responsible are adapting their approach in order to maintain this essential link in the healthcare chain.
If you are eligible to donate blood (the criteria are given on the websites indicated below), you are encouraged to do so, even in the current circumstances. The institutions organising blood donations in France and Switzerland have taken the necessary measures to protect donors with respect to the COVID-19 risk.
People who have had a confirmed coronavirus infection during the last four weeks and those who are in close contact with patients who have had a confirmed coronavirus infection during the last two weeks are obviously not authorised to give blood at the present time.
See below for further information on how and where you can give blood.
If you live in France:
Several donation sessions will be held in the Pays de Gex in the coming weeks:
- Wednesday, 6 May – 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. – Salle des fêtes in Thoiry
- Tuesday, 19 May – 3.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. – Divonne-les-Bains town hall
- Wednesday, 3 June – 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. – Maison des Associations in Péron
You can also go to the permanent blood donation centres in Annecy and Annemasse.
For all donations made before the end of the lockdown, appointments must be arranged in advance by calling +33 4 50 87 69 70. This applies to all donation sessions (i.e. whether at the donation centres or at one of the temporary venues).
When travelling to the donation venue, you must be in possession of the certificate of special dispensation (“attestation de déplacement dérogatoire”), on which box number 4 (“Déplacements pour motif familial impérieux, pour l’assistance aux personnes vulnérables ou la garde d’enfants” - Travel for urgent family reasons, to assist vulnerable people or for childcare purposes) must be ticked.
For more information, see the website of the French blood donation service. This website includes the dates of upcoming donation sessions and an eligibility test that you can use to determine whether you can give blood. Steps have been taken to ensure that the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease are respected and that donors, volunteers and staff are protected.
If you live in Switzerland:
Three donation sessions will be held in the coming weeks:
- Wednesday, 29 April – 3.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. – Salle du Rondeau in Carouge
- Wednesday, 6 May – 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. – Ecole de Vernier Place
- Thursday, 7 May – 3.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. – Satigny town hall
You can also go to the Blood Transfusion Centre at the HUG (Geneva University Hospitals):
- with an appointment booked via: dondusang-rendezvous.ch
- or without an appointment:
- on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
- on Thursdays between 11.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.
- on the first and third Saturday of each month between 8.30 a.m. and 12 noon
Public donation sessions are open to all donors. Steps have been taken to ensure that the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease are respected and that donors, volunteers and staff are protected.
For further information, contact the Blood Transfusion Centre on +41 (0)22 372 39 01 or visit its website, which provides a schedule of upcoming donation sessions and the compulsory medical questionnaire, which you can print prior to the session. (If you are not able to print the document, a copy will be provided at the venue.)
Don’t forget: we can all save lives. Giving blood means saving a life.
Thank you for your generosity.