Trending Now - Surge in Demand for 'unvaccinated' Blood Amid Health Fears

WHO:

CIDRAP - Vanderbilt University Medical Center received 15 requests for unvaccinated blood from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

CIDRAP - The median age of patients requesting unvaccinated blood was 17 years old; more than half were children.

CIDRAP - Lawmakers in several states, including Connecticut, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming, have attempted to mandate access to blood transfusions from unvaccinated donors.

WHAT:

Gizmodo - There is a growing demand for blood donations from unvaccinated individuals, despite no evidence supporting the safety of such blood.

CIDRAP - Requests for unvaccinated blood have increased since the release of COVID-19 vaccines, which saved an estimated 20 million lives in their first year of use.

CIDRAP - Two patients developed serious health issues after refusing standard blood transfusions, with one developing anemia and the other experiencing hemodynamic shock.

WHERE:

CIDRAP - The requests for unvaccinated blood were noted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

WHEN:

CIDRAP - The report detailing the increase in requests for unvaccinated blood was published late last week, in March 2026.

CIDRAP - The 15 requests for unvaccinated blood at Vanderbilt University Medical Center occurred from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

WHY:

CIDRAP - The increase in requests for unvaccinated blood is attributed to misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 vaccines.

HOW:

CIDRAP - Blood centers do not ask donors about their vaccination status and do not label blood according to vaccinated status, making it difficult to fulfill requests for unvaccinated blood.

CIDRAP - Some patients request blood donations from specific individuals, such as relatives, whom they know to be unvaccinated, despite the risks associated with direct donations from first-time donors.

(UPDATED April 1, 2026 17:20 UTC)

A recent report from CIDRAP reveals that Vanderbilt University Medical Center received 15 requests for unvaccinated blood between January 1stst, 2024, and December 31stst, 2025, with the median age of patients requesting this blood being just 17 years old, and more than half of them being children. This growing demand for unvaccinated blood has been linked to misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, despite the fact that these vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in their first year of use. Additionally, two patients who refused standard blood transfusions faced serious health issues, highlighting the risks associated with seeking unvaccinated blood donations.