In a statement, the agency specifically mentioned risk-based screening for HIV.

You hear it often: There’s a need for blood donors -- but there’s apparently a particular need for the Black community to step up and donate.

You can donate if you have been vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19.

There is a desperate need for more blood and platelet donations right now across the country.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In honor of National Blood Donor Month, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is encouraging people to donate blood. LifeSouth said there is a nationwide blood shortage for all blood types, especially type O, amid the pandemic. So we really need those blood donations to come in.”Melissa Brusoe told News4Jax donated blood saved her life. She had a high-risk pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter, Eliyanah, 12 weeks early at Orange Park Medical Center. To donate blood, visit LifeSouth for a list of blood centers and blood drives.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking people who are well to donate blood if they are able to amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a tweet on Saturday, the CDC encouraged blood donors to schedule an appointment to donate, saying there’s an urgent need for blood. The CDC said blood centers are following safety measures, including spacing donor chairs 6 feet apart and following environmental cleaning practices. US #blood centers are following safety measures for #COVID19, incl. See https://t.co/XaBrGMhDR6 — CDC (@CDCgov) March 21, 2020The CDC’s tweet comes after the U.S. surgeon general on Thursday urged healthy Americans, especially younger ones, to donate blood as supplies dwindle amid the coronavirus outbreak.