KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are asked to abstain from donating blood within seven days after receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations if they have no side effects, the National Blood Centre (PDN) said.

PDN said if a vaccine recipient had any minor side effects, they could donate blood seven days after fully recovering from the side effects.

The centre stated that those receiving the Pfizer-Biontech, Sinovac dan AstraZeneca vaccines should follow its advisory regarding blood donations.

PDN highly encourages blood donors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves and others, it said.

"Blood donors can donate blood during the interval period between the first and second COVID-19 dose," the centre said in a Facebook post yesterday.

PDN also said that it would share further information about donating blood for other types of COVID-19 vaccine in the future.

-- BERNAMA