Help patients during the Christmas holidays – blood donation open also on Boxing Day

Blood donors are needed every weekday, about 700, to ensure that all blood products can be delivered to the patients who need them. Blood products do not last long, so they cannot be stored for the Christmas holidays, and donors are needed continuously.

The blood storage changes quickly

All blood groups are needed, but negative blood groups are particularly challenging as they are rare in the population. O negative is so-called emergency blood that can be given to all patients. The A- blood group is found in only 6 percent of Finland’s population, and O negative in only 5 percent. The rarest blood groups are B-, found in only two percent of Finland’s population, and AB-, found in only one percent of Finns.

The blood group situation can change quickly if patients with rarer blood groups suddenly need more blood products.

Blood Service encourages donors to book appointments for the days around Christmas in advance. Appointments can be booked on the website or via the donor’s mobile application.

Christmas opening hours 2024

Our opening hours during the Christmas and New Year holidays are as follows:

23.12. 10-17

24.12. (Christmas Eve): Closed

25.12. (Christmas Day): Closed

26.12. (Boxing Day):

• 10-17 (Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Seinäjoki, Turku),
• 11-18 (Espoo, Sanomatalo, Tampere, Vantaa)
• 12-17 (Lahti)
• 12-17 (Riihimäki blood donation event)

31.12. (New Year’s Eve):

• 10-17
• Oulu’s unit is closed, but a blood donation event is organized in Kemi from 12:30-17)

1.1. (New Year’s Day): Closed

6.1. (Epiphany): Closed

Our opening hours, mobile events, and appointment booking can be found on our webpage: veripalvelu.fi/en/book-an-appointment

Blood Service thanks all blood donors for the past year and wishes a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year 2025!