Ban on blood donation for UK/Europe residents/visitors lifted

[brihard]

Sharing this because I suspect CAF members may have been disproportionately impacted: for years Canadian Blood Services has had a ban on blood donations from those of us who lived or spent lengths of time in the UK, France, and some other areas in the 90s during the ‘mad cow disease’ scare. That ban will be lifted as of December 4th, and we’ll now be eligible to donate.

A family member of mine has needed quite a bit of blood for ongoing cancer treatment, and most of us have likely had close friends or family who needed blood in an emergency or for ongoing treatment. Hopefully this rule change opens up a new pool of donors.

Historic change opens the door for more blood and plasma donors: human variant of ‘mad cow’ eligibility rule gone for good | Canadian Blood Services

www.blood.ca

 

[KevinB]

I still can’t donate blood down here.

 

[dapaterson]

I still can’t donate blood down here.

Well, sure, when you show up with a bucket full of blood of unknown origin they're going to start asking you questions.

 

[lenaitch]

Got well over 100 on my card and would love to donate more but there are no whole blood clinics in all of Northern Ontario.