HI SR28

Request that Blood Bank of Hawaii immediately adopt FDA updated guidance that shortens or eliminates deferral periods for certain blood donors.

FDA revised blood donor eligibility guidance to reduce deferral periods from 12 months to 3 months for male donors who have sex with men, female donors with such partners, and donors with tattoos or piercings.

FDA eliminated or shortened deferral periods for donors who traveled to malaria-endemic areas and those with potential exposure to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in European countries.

Blood Bank of Hawaii serves as the sole blood provider to eighteen civilian hospitals in Hawaii and one on Guam, facing a critical shortage requiring 150 donors daily but receiving only 60-80% of normal supply.

Certified copies of the resolution to be transmitted to the Director of Health and Chair of the Blood Bank of Hawaii.