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Almost 22 years ago, the TGA prohibited blood donations from people potentially affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) in December 2000.
ABS statistics show that around 700,000 people in Australia who spent time in the UK during that period will now potentially be able to donate their blood, but not immediately.
The organisation will first need to update its donor screening processes to accommodate the change.
Lifeblood spokesperson Helen Walsh said the TGA is confident with their move to drop the ban.
“They’re confident that we can maintain a blood supply – a safe and secure blood supply – here in Australia,” she said.
The news has been warmly welcomed in Western Australia, as one in 10 people living in Perth were been born in England.
UK expat Helen Berry who lives in Perth said she’ll be lining up to donate as soon as she can.
“As soon as they’ve bought it online, yep I’ll be one of the first in the queue,” she said.
Source: 9News
