Credit Rrrrred / Flickr The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks says there’s a critical need right now for O negative blood. According to the blood center, “reserves are alarmingly low.” That’s due in part to a significant increase in hospital usage over the past several months. Over the past four months, hospital blood transfusion rates have increased more than 16 percent over the same time last year. O Negative blood is a universal blood type, meaning anyone can receive it regardless of their blood type. The CBCO says donors can give even if they’ve just received a COVID-19 vaccine.