Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Weekly Update

April 15, 2020

Your Chamber @ Work

Oklahoma Blood Institute to Collect Convalescent

Plasma to Aid Local COVID-19 Patients

Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) will collect convalescent plasma from donors who have recovered from COVID-19, part of an experimental initiative to use the product to treat seriously ill patients.

By creating the only statewide registry of available patients, Oklahoma Blood Institute can ensure local patients receive the donated products and have the best possible chance at fighting the illness.

“We’re excited to play our part in ensuring Oklahomans have access to all treatment options, including convalescent plasma,” said John Armitage, MD, president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “As Oklahoma’s community blood supplier, we can quickly collect donor information and work with our local hospital partners to ensure any Oklahoman who wants to help a neighbor has that opportunity.”

Donors are encouraged to sign up for Oklahoma’s registry my.bio-linked.org . Bio-Linked allows users to submit confidential health and social information via a secure site and to list themselves as potential volunteers for medical research. Once qualified, plasma will be drawn, with each donor providing up to three therapeutic plasma doses.

“The Oklahoma State Medical Association is proud to have partnered with the Oklahoma Blood Institute to initiate this proactive program for our Covid-19 patients who may suffer from severe disease in the future,” said Larry A. Bookman, MD, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. “This is an example of Oklahoma’s doctors working to take the best possible care of our Oklahoma patients.”

To provide convalescent plasma, donors must be eligible to donate blood and meet the criteria below:

· Prior diagnosis of COVID-19, documented by a laboratory test

· Present negative results for COVID-19, either from nasal swabs or a molecular (RNA or nucleic acid) diagnostic blood test

· Symptom-free for 14 days prior to donation

· If female, either no history of pregnancy or negative for HLA (tissue typing) antibodies

Complete information on donor eligibility from the FDA is available here .

The Grove Block Party scheduled for May 1st has been postponed until May 15th. As this is a fluid situation, we will keep everyone informed in the event that this plan changes.

Celebrate summer and our great lake lifestyle in Grove & Grand Lake at Mid-America's largest FREE Trop Rock festival! The 2020 event promises to be the biggest and best yet with Trop Rock bands, the Thunder on Wolf Creek boat races, the American Heritage Music Festival and fiddle competition (Friday), food trucks, arts & crafts vendors, helicopter rides, the Tiki Man 5K, Island Fun & Games, a great fireworks show, and so much more! Presented by the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau and sponsored by the Grand River Dam Authority and Plum Farmaceuticals.

Vendor applications for the 2020 Toes in the Grand Festival are available now at www.toesinthegrand.com.