Your digest

Survey results show vaccine popularity among employees

COVID-19 vaccination is popular among Canadian Blood Services employees, according to a recent survey. Approximately half of all staff participated in the voluntary survey in May, with results indicating that 95 per cent of respondents had either already received their first vaccine dose or planned to do so at their first opportunity. “These survey results are encouraging for many reasons,” says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO. “I’m very pleased that so many are willing to share their vaccination status. The more we share our experiences, the more others who are potentially hesitant, can see the safety and efficacy of vaccines in action.” Learn more about the survey and its results on Connect.

New donor centre set to open in highly diverse community

We are pleased to announce that by summer 2022, we will open a new state-of-the-art fixed donor centre in Scarborough, Ont. This community has become one of the most diverse and highly-populated places in the greater Toronto area. The new site will help draw in a diverse staff and donor base to meet the needs of increasingly diverse patient populations in Canada, including but not limited to stem cells and patients needing rare blood. “Our new site will help us address blood collection needs in the region, allow us to collect blood more efficiently and attract new donors, volunteers and staff who are more reflective of our diverse Canadian population,” says Janet Sullivan, associate director, donor relations in the ONN region. Read more on Connect.

Pride Month: How inclusive spaces create belonging

Two years ago, we launched our first employee resource group for LGBTQ+ employees, to provide a safe and inclusive space for staff to share their experiences and perspectives with each other and with our senior leaders. Quiet conversations among colleagues had been taking place for years but there was no formal support structure in place. Amy Gow, manager of continuous improvement and reporting in shared services, remembers feeling nervous about participating in the group for the first time. She wasn’t “out” at work, except to a few close colleagues. But when she walked into that inaugural meeting in May 2019, she found her nervousness was short-lived. Read Amy’s story on Connect and discover how open conversations can help increase our sense of belonging.

Celebrate National Health and Fitness Day with a low-impact workout

Physical activity can be a powerful tool to cope with pandemic fatigue. That’s why we’re celebrating National Health and Fitness Day (Sat, June 5) by hosting a special low-impact training session with GoodLife Fitness at noon ET on Mon, June 7 as part of our Spring into Summer wellness challenge. Using cardio and muscle-conditioning intervals, this low-impact workout helps improve cardiovascular fitness, core strength and agility. For more information and to register, please visit: connect.blood.ca/EmployeeSupports.

PLUS: If you haven’t had the chance to sign up for the summer wellness challenge yet, it’s not too late. This fun, low-pressure challenge is a great opportunity to focus on your overall health and add some self-care to your day. Everyone who completes the challenge will also be entered into a draw to win prizes. Learn more and sign up today on Connect.

Question of the day: Some donors are wondering if COVID-19 vaccinations can affect a donor’s blood. What can we tell them?

We have received several questions around COVID-19 vaccinations and blood donation including: how safe the blood collected from vaccinated donors is once it’s transfused into a patient; if vaccinated donors must wait a period of time before donating; and if a patient can find out if the blood they are receiving is coming from a vaccinated donor. There is no evidence that transfused blood collected from donors who were previously vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine poses any harm to patients.  

To dispel any myths and clear up confusion, we posted a statement on our website to address these concerns. Our goal is to provide employees with accurate information, not only for your own awareness, but for those on the frontlines who may encounter donors who pose these questions. 

If you have any further questions or concerns about vaccines and blood donation, please email communications@blood.ca.

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About your digest

This digest will highlight the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content like articles and videos to remind us that what we do matters.  No access to email? No problem — all this information and more can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.    

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