A blood donation rule that has stopped tens of thousands of people from rolling up their sleeves has been dubbed “stupid” by Sunrise co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
The Channel 7 breakfast show presenter announced on air on Tuesday morning that he was one of many who lived in the United Kingdom between 1980 to 1996 that aren't allowed to give blood in Australia due to mad cow disease fears.
He said even his three children weren't eligible to donate because they lived overseas.
“I’ve never been able to give blood since working and living in the UK in the ’90s,” Kochie said.
“It was a long time ago. It’s stupid.”
His comments came after a news story about the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood considering lifting the ban because of a dire shortage in blood banks.
The charity has called for more donors as many people cancelled or did not attend their bookings due to the Omicron wave.
About 4500 planned donations are falling through each day.
The Red Cross estimates 20 per cent of the nation’s donors have been unable to donate because record numbers of people are infected with Covid-19 or are in isolation.
Lifeblood executive director of donor services Cath Stone said there were about 600 different reasons why a person wasn't unable to give blood and that was to ensure one of the safest blood supplies in the world was maintained.
“The peak of (mad cow cases) we saw in 2000. We haven't seen any cases since 2010,” she told Sunrise.
“That is why now it is the opportune time for us to review that based on the latest evidence. We are looking forward to the outcomes of that submission.”
