Governor Proclaims Plasma Awareness Week 2021

WHEREAS, October 4-8 marks Plasma Awareness Week with observances throughout the United States designed to raise awareness of the importance of plasma donation and its impact on patients with rare diseases, recognize the contributions of plasma donors to saving and improving lives, and to increase understanding about lifesaving plasma protein therapies and the conditions they treat; and

WHEREAS, plasma-derived and recombinant therapies, collectively known as plasma protein therapies are unique, biologic products for which no substitutes exist, save and improve lives of individuals throughout North Carolina and the United States; and

WHEREAS, plasma protein therapies are used to treat many conditions including hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, primary immune deficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, hereditary angioedema, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and Rh-negative pregnancies; and

WHEREAS, these therapies substantially increase the quality of life, extend life expectancy, and improve patient outcomes for an estimated 3,000 North Carolinians; and

WHEREAS, plasma donors, as well as the staff who work at the 39 plasma donation centers in North Carolina, are recognized as part of the state’s essential, critical infrastructure;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 4-8, 2021, as “PLASMA AWARENESS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.