“I know of a situation in New York where a gay man was able to donate plasma for COVID-19. It will require more time and education to see the new guideline be in effect,” Dr. “It becomes difficult for everyone involved to implement the changes so fast.
Cheryl Holder, a Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine professor, says this might be happening because blood centers are not prepared to implement and comply with the new FDA guideline. Lukus Estok was one of the people who shared his story about being turned away in a blood center located in New York.ĭr. Testimonies suggest that despite the change in the FDA guidelines, hundreds of the country’s blood centers are still unable to accept blood from gay men even though there is a desperate need for blood that could save many lives. However, the FDA changed these restrictions in April by reducing the donation deferral period for men who had sex with another man from 12 months to three months after the urgent need for blood. Food and Drug Administration has restricted men who had sex with men from donating blood and plasma if they have had sex with another man within the last 12 months, supposedly as a method for preventing the spread of HIV. Gay male donors are being turned away from blood donation sites despite a blood shortage during the pandemic.įor years, the U.S.