Ensuring a reliable blood supply during a pandemic in a Caribbean setting: The Curaçao experience

National blood systems require a resilient mechanism for ensuring safe blood supply during pandemics. For small island developing states (SIDS) additional specific challenges exist not normally addressed in guidelines and the literature. Here we describe the model used by the Caribbean island of Curaçao for pandemic preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key measures taken by the Red Cross Blood bank Foundation Curaçao during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. National blood program data were analyzed retrospectively.

For pandemic preparedness, critical main processes were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. These included individual donor time-scheduled phlebotomy sessions and government-authorized lockdown travel permits. Work procedures focusing on the prevention of simultaneous presence of personnel during shifts were introduced. Donor information was provided during governmental public health briefings. Patient blood management programs were adopted according to international recommendations in consultation with the blood bank. During the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by four severe outbreaks over 2 years, donor availability and donations were maintained with sufficient labile blood product supply to all hospitals served.

For SIDS, effective small-scale implementation of international recommendations on pandemics remains challenging. The national blood program preparedness model of Curaçao proved to be successful during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring uninterrupted donor participation and sufficient labile blood product availability. Key success factors of the model were a voluntary, non-remunerated, repetitive donor program, a central blood collection facility, acknowledgement of the blood bank as important in the public health pandemic response, and effective communication with donors, hospitals, and health authorities.