In a historic move, the country’s Red Cross Lifeblood service reduced the previous waiting period from 12 months – which had been the policy since 2000 – to three months of celibacy.
Prior to that, MSM (men who have sex with men) were banned for donating for life due to stigma and fear surrounding HIV/AIDS transmission. “Following the approval of our submissions by the TGA, subsequent agreement by all Australian governments, and an update of Lifeblood systems including the donor questionnaire form,” the organisation said in a statement. “We are pleased to report this change was applied on 31 January 2021 and is now in place for all applicable sexual-activity-based blood donation deferral policies. “At Lifeblood we’re continuing our focus to