We now have many drugs to help protect the most vulnerable from becoming seriously ill from COVID.

Gardner-White Furniture is hosting blood drives at several of their Metro Detroit stores this week.

3830, 2299 W. 12 Mile RoadBloomfield1/7/2021: 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bloomfield Blood Donation Center, 4190 Telegraph Rd. Bloomfield1/14/2021: 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bloomfield Blood Donation Center, 4190 Telegraph Rd. Farmington Hills1/14/2021: 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Farmington Hills Blood Donation Center, 31150 Haggerty Rd. Farmington Hills1/21/2021: 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Farmington Hills Blood Donation Center, 31150 Haggerty Rd. Farmington Hills1/28/2021: 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Farmington Hills Blood Donation Center, 31150 Haggerty Rd.

DETROIT – Versiti said the supply level for convalescent plasma from COVID-19 survivors is dwindling. Convalescent plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that can bind to the virus that causes COVID-19, neutralizing it. Versiti is asking community members who have tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered to donate plasma. You are eligible if you’ve had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by a physician and laboratory testing. READ: Michigan Medicine awarded funding for COVID-19 plasma therapy trial

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Researchers at the University of Michigans Michigan Medicine and three other medical centers were awarded a total of $7 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) to study convalescent plasma in reducing symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with mild cases, Michigan Medicine announced Thursday. The other medical centers awarded funding are the University of Pittsburgh, Medical University of South Carolina and Stanford Medicine. As part of NHBLIs initiative, the Clinical Trial of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma of Outpatients (C3PO), the institute plans to study whether preventing a mild case from becoming severe can come from passive immunization. Convalescent plasma contains antibodies that can bind to the virus that causes COVID-19, neutralizing it. A press release from Michigan Medicine said convalescent plasma can be used as a treatment for hospital patients with severe to life-threatening COVID-19, which is the passive immunization.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Researchers at the University of Michigans Michigan Medicine and three other medical centers were awarded a total of $7 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) to study convalescent plasma in reducing symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with mild cases, Michigan Medicine announced Thursday. ORIGINAL STORY: Michigan Medicine awarded funding for COVID-19 plasma therapy trialMost of the other studies are focused on people who are so sick that they need to be in the ICU, said Dr. Frederick Korley. He said convalescent plasma -- donated by survivors -- contains antibodies that can bind to COVID-19 and neutralize it. Our hope is that if we can get to the patient early enough then -- with convalescent plasma -- we can neutralize the virus before the virus does a lot of damage to the body, Korley said. The study will enroll ER patients that have mild COVID-19 symptoms, but a high-risk for developing severe complications.

DETROIT – New medications and treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19) are being tested in medical centers across the country. READ: FDA approves plasma therapy treatment for coronavirusHenry Ford Hospital physician Dr. Scott Kaatz took care of some of the first coronavirus patients admitted to the hospital. He was enrolled in the convalescent plasma study while he was being treated at the hospital. “I was unconscious, paralyzed, on a ventilator.”Before he went on the ventilator, Kaatz was able to video chat with his family via Skype. So far 14 coronavirus patients have undergone transfusions of convalescent plasma at Henry Ford.