Hyperimmune plasma research, the European Commission allocates 7 million euros for Italian blood transfusion services. These are health facilities that have collected, collect or plan to collect convalescent plasma Covid-19. This was announced by the National Blood Center (Cns). The funds were obtained as part of the Esi (Emergency Support Instrument) program, created to help Member States deal with the pandemic and are intended for transfusion services projects in 14 Italian regions.
Meanwhile, the pandemic always records important numbers. The new positive cases of today are 16.310 (yesterday 16.146), while the new deaths are 475 (yesterday 477). The swabs made in the last 24 hours are 260.704 (yesterday 273.506); the ICU patients are 2.520, two less than yesterday. The discharged healed are 16.186 (yesterday 18.979) while overall the positive cases are 557.717, 351 fewer than yesterday.
Hyperimmune plasma
Last August, explains the Cns, the regional transfusion coordination structure (Src) of the Lombardy Region nominated itself as the leader of the transfusion services. The latter have expressed interest in accessing funding and prepared the proposals, as per the European call for proposals.
In total, 14 regions and autonomous provinces have made the request. The approval of the projects will allow access to approximately 100% of the requested funds 7,1 million euro, out of 36 million euros made available by the Commission for all projects.
The research continues
"Waiting for certain scientific evidence on the efficacy of hyperimmune plasma against Covid-19 - underlines Vincenzo De Angelis, director of the National Center blood - it is essential to continue research on this therapy.
In any case, strengthening the capacity of transfusion facilities will also be very useful for absolutely increase plasma collection, which is the only source of often life-saving drugs, and bring us even closer to self-sufficiency in this sector ”.
