FDA Loosens Restrictions on Homosexual Men Donating Blood Amid Pandemic

The federal government is loosening restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of a blood shortage brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

In revised guidelines published Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a three-month deferral for men who have sex with men. The previous policy was a full year ban.

The new guidelines will remain in place throughout the pandemic and will be updated to incorporate public comment within 60 days of the emergency being lifted. . .

The three-month deferral also applies to those who recently got tattoos or piercings, as well as former sex workers or injection drug users, who were previously indefinitely banned from donating.

The FDA said experience in other countries like the United Kingdom and Canada with a three-month deferral and improved testing led the agency to make the change. (Read more from “FDA Loosens Restrictions on Homosexual Men Donating Blood Amid Pandemic” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE