2020-11

Recognizing the importance of convalescent plasma donations in the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases

Rep. Alma Hernández (AZ), sponsor

Sponsored by Rep. Alma Hernández (AZ)

Ratified by the Caucus on December 11, 2020

WHEREAS, chronic conditions such as cancer, type-2 diabetes, sickle cell disease, obesity and serious heart conditions, which are disproportionately prevalent among the Hispanic population,[1] are linked to severe illness and negative effects of COVID-19;[2] and,

WHEREAS, convalescent plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that could help the immune systems of other patients fight the virus;[3] and,

WHEREAS, since a potential therapy could come from pooling together convalescent plasma from many recovered donors and concentrating these antibodies, there is an urgent need for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their convalescent plasma;[4] and,

WHEREAS, leading companies specializing in plasma-derived therapies are working together to develop a non-branded hyperimmune globulin medicine that has the potential to be one a good treatment option for COVID-19;[5] and,

WHEREAS, plasma is used to make a variety of treatments that help thousands of people with serious and rare diseases, which often have few other treatment options; it can only come from healthy adults; it cannot be made in a lab or by artificial methods.[6]

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) encourages all healthy adults, whether they have recovered from COVID-19 or not, to help save lives by donating plasma; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NHCSL encourages states to analyze policies that would help increase plasma donation, including but not limited to, providing tax incentives for blood banks[7] and encouraging the development of minority-owned plasma centers.

THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION ON DECEMBER 11, 2020 AT ITS FALL MEETING HELD VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS UNIANIMOUSLY RATIFIED THIS RESOLUTION ON DECEMBER 11, 2020, AT THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

[1] See, https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hispanic-health/index.html#:~:text=24%25%20more%20poorly%20controlled%20high,28%25%20less%20colorectal%20screening. And see: https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=64

[2] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html#:~:text=Having%20COPD%20(including%20emphysema%20and,severe%20illness%20from%20COVID%2D19.

[3] Available at: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/donate-covid-19-plasma

[4] Ibid.

[5] Available at: https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2020/first-patient-enrolled-in-nih-phase-3-trial-to-evaluate-potential-covid-19-hyperimmune-medicine/

[6] Available at: https://www.donatingplasma.org/plasma-protein-therapies/who-needs-plasma-therapies

[7] For example see California AB-2989: Exempting the gross receipts tax from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption of, any reagents or chemicals, and lab equipment and supplies, used by a licensed blood bank to perform blood screening tests on donated human blood, to existing law that already exempted any container used to collect or store human whole blood, plasma, blood products, or blood derivatives. Available at http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2989