As Blood Shortage Deepens, Time to Accept the Evidence –End Deferral Period for Gay and Bisexual Blood Donors

Jeffrey A. SingerIn mid ‐​January, twenty‐​two Democratic U.S. Senators sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock, urging the FDA to abandon its policy of requiring sexual abstinence by gay and bisexual men for at least three months before they can donate blood. A separate letter to the Secretary and Acting Commissioner, signed by four Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives was sent the same day. Earlier this week Utah State Senator Derek Kitchen (D ‑Salt Lake City) introduced SJR11, a joint resolution that, if passed by the Utah legislature, would call on the FDA to change its “outdated and discriminatory protocols” for gay and bisexual men who wish to donate blood.In early January the American Red Cross declared a national “blood crisis: ”The Red Cross has experienced a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since the beginning of the pandemic and continues to confront relentless issues due to the pandemic, including ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations. Adding to the concern is the surge of COVID-19 cases. The Red Cross has experienced low donor turnout ever since the delta variant began spreading in August, and that trend continues as the Omicron variant takes over.All types are needed now, especially types O positive and O negative, as well as platelet donations, to help re...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs