Andy Cohen Was Denied from Donating Plasma despite Having Robust Antibodies — Why?

Andy Cohen recently recovered from the novel coronavirus and shared his confusion at not being able to donate his "robust" COVID-109 antibodies because of his sexual orientation.

The beloved "Bravo" star Andy Cohen joined the ladies on "The View" for a remote interview about the most recent developments in his life.

Cohen recently battled through the novel coronavirus, but despite having antibodies to fight the disease, he is not allowed to donate his plasma to others.

WHEN ANDY CONTRACTED THE VIRUS

In March, it took several days of Andy Cohen "not feeling great" as he came down with a case of the novel coronavirus. Having since recovered, he wanted to help others by donating his plasma.

If present, the antibodies in the plasma could help others battling the disease, and he reached the stage where he could reunite with his son Benjamin and resume his hosting duties.

I just thought, 'Well, this is crazy.'

DONATING BLOOD AND PLASMA

Almost a month later, Cohen went to have his plasma tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Even though he had an impressive antibody count, he did not meet the donation criteria as a gay man.

Being turned down when he could be helping so many people stunned Cohen, and he shared his "extreme disappointment" with the hosts on "The View," as he added:

"I think that this is something that I've been speaking up about because I think that ... we need help here."

THE REVISED GUIDELINES

The laws regarding gay and bisexual blood donations Cohen are all too familiar with and have been for a long time. Restrictions came about during the 1980s with the rise of HIV/AIDS when any man who had sex with another after 1977 got banned from donating blood.

In 2015, the FDA reportedly revised this law to require any gay or bisexual man to abstain from sex for a minimum of twelve months before blood donations would be allowed.

HOW IT MADE ANDY FEEL

Since technology advanced quite a bit in the meantime, Cohen said that it "surprised" him that the FDA still had that approach to donations. Feeling "hurt" the show host added:

"I just thought, 'Well, this is crazy.' It is discriminatory. I don't understand it. I'm HIV-negative."

TOUGH DECISIONS

The talk show host also had to make a difficult decision at home in recent months. Andy Cohen used to have a rescue dog named Wacha, but he had his canine friend rehomed.

With his son Benjamin just over a year old and Wacha's occasional "random signs of aggression," several people warned that if something bad happened, the dog would be put down in addition to any other consequences. Not prepared to take the risk for anyone involved, Cohen had the dog rehomed, and he is doing well.