The percentage of blood donors with antibodies to the coronavirus has risen slightly to about 5.5 percent. This is evident from figures from the Sanquin blood banks that have been requested by the AD.
In April, the first large national survey revealed that 3 percent of Dutch blood donors have antibodies against the coronavirus in the body. The figures from the second round show a relatively small increase to 5.5 percent, according to Sanquin research leader Hans Zaaijer. “This is in line with the data that the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) shows about the declining spread of the infection in the Netherlands.”
Zaaijer suspects that it may take another two years before group immunity is reached in the Netherlands. For this, about 60 percent of the Dutch population must have had the disease and developed antibodies. “A vaccine should really be the salvation and not let it be dosed corona in society,” says Zaaijer.
Between 10 and 20 May, 7,000 blood donors between 18 and 75 years old who had no symptoms for at least two weeks were tested. Because only donors have been tested, this is not entirely representative of the Dutch population. However, these data are used in the PIENTER Corona study by RIVM, a study that examines how the new coronavirus spreads among the ordinary Dutch population.
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