Those who lived in Europe in the 80's and 90's can now donate blood in the U.S.

The FDA recently lifted restrictions on donating blood on those that had lived in certain European countries in the 1980's and '90's.

Due to the potential risk of contracting vCJD, aka "Mad Cow Disease" during that period countries such as the U.S. barred those that had lived there for several months during that time for donating blood, initially for a 10-year period after departing Europe but ultimately indefinitely.

The FDA recently lifted the donation blood for all (the ban was lifted for military personnel and their families in 2020) and to get the word out I filmed a PSA with one of my high school friends for the Oklahoma Blood Institute. As soon as we finished filming Mark and I went to donate! It was great to do so after a break of more than 20 years.

The short clip is here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwmdydi6hbg5wll/vCJD%20Deferral%20video%20%28no%20cruise%20giveaway%20info%29.mp4?dl=0