The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released new guidelines for blood donors to bolster the supply of urgently needed blood and blood components. The country’s blood supply has fallen dramatically as workplaces and schools cancel blood drives in the wake of COVID-19 shutdowns across the country.
To meet this need, the agency is recommending new eligibility rules to welcome groups formerly banned from donating blood. Most notable perhaps is a partial lifting of the controversial ban on men who have had sexual relations with another man within the last 12 months. The deferral period has been decreased to three months.
This also applies to women who have slept with a man who has slept with another man within the past three months.
The deferral period has also dropped from 12 to three months for people who have gotten a tattoo or piercing, or have visited malaria-endemic areas.
“Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data, the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
The agency is recommending that these guidelines continue beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
“The updated recommendations in these guidances are based on data and analysis that the FDA believes are applicable to circumstances outside of (and after) the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect the agency’s current thinking on this issue,” Marks said. “These recommendations are expected to remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, with any appropriate changes based on comments we receive and our experience implementing the guidances.”
March For Our Lives will be returning this weekend to Washington, DC, in the wake of the recent mass shooting seen throughout the country. Marchers include Yolanda Renee King, the only granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. She joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of the march and activism in general. "I just think that it's so important to have these rallies because we need to demand to our leaders and politicians that they pass legislation and that and we actually need to see action," she said.
Catching you up on today’s entertainment headlines with the Grammys announcing new categories to be added to the awards show, Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck planning to release an album together, Britney Spears' ex-husband crashing her wedding, and more.
Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow, directors of 'The Big Payback,' join Cheddar News to discuss their new film, 'The Big Payback.' It premieres Saturday, June 11 at the Tribeca Festival.
'Pride Portraits' is a trans-led organization aiming to visually represent the LGBTQ+ community one photograph at a time. Eden Rose Torres, founder and president of Pride Portraits, joins Cheddar News to discuss its participants and the issues the LGBTQ+ community still faces.
The 75th Annual Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 12. Cheddar News takes a closer look at who's nominated and what audiences can expect from the ceremony.
On this episode of ChedHER: Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions explains how she leads a 1,000+ person team for LinkedIn's $1 billion business, and gives advice for determining your own unique leadership style; Chief Sales Officer at Xometry, joins ChedHER breaks down why women should consider careers in manufacturing, and what opportunities are available for them in this industry; Founder of Pride Live & Stonewall Day, joins ChedHER talks about the mission and story behind Pride Live, and what to expect from this year's Stonewall Day.
Kathy Mayerhofer, Chief Sales Officer at Xometry, joins ChedHER to discuss why women should consider careers in manufacturing, and what opportunities are available for them in this industry.
Alyssa Merwin, Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions, joins ChedHER to discuss how she leads a 1,000+ person team for LinkedIn's $1 billion business, and gives advice for determining your own unique leadership style.
Diana Rodriguez, Founder of Pride Live & Stonewall Day, joins ChedHER to discuss the mission and story behind Pride Live, and what to expect from this year's Stonewall Day.
Amanda Jones is the TikToker behind the “healthy Coke” recipe. In her viral post, she shared a concoction of balsamic vinegar and La Croix, allegedly something she learned from her pilates instructor and claimed it tastes just like Coca-Cola — only healthier. Jones joined Cheddar News and walked Hena Doba and Ken Buffa through the unusual recipe to have a taste for themselves.
