The parents of the baby at the centre of the "unjabbed blood" case are "realistic" that blood products from vaccinated donors may have to be used in the baby's heart surgery, their lawyer says.

But they insist that "the bulk" of the blood be unvaccinated, according to Sue Grey.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand wants the courts to take temporary custody of the four-month-old baby Read more

It was nothing new, said Rowena Ranola, 58, who works with the archdiocese's Persons with Disability Ministry.

It was Ranola's fifth time donating blood at what has become an annual drive to celebrate the cardinal's birthday.

"It's good to donate blood," she said. "Aside from being able to help people, it's good for the body as well," said Ranola who encouraged her children and other people to do the same.

The donated blood will be given to the Philippine Red Cross.

"It's really the poor who will benefit from this," said director of the archdiocese's Human Resource Department, Fr Sanny de Claro.

Father Roy Bellen of the archdiocese's Office of Communications said Tagle prefers activities that will benefit others instead of holding a party for his birthday.

"This is a good concrete gift because it will not be for just one day but really help prolong other people's lives," said the priest.

Source

• UCANews