Here you will find frequently asked questions and answers about anti-D prophylaxis, a passive immunization (vaccination) that is often given in conjunction with the mother’s and child’s blood type.
Why is anti-D prophylaxis given?
Anti-D is used to prevent a harmful immune reaction in RhD-negative mothers who are carrying or have given birth to an RhD-positive baby. If RhD-positive blood cells from the baby enter the motherโs bloodstream, her immune system may recognize them as foreign and produce antibodies against them.
These antibodies can cross the placenta in future pregnancies and attack the red blood cells of another RhD-positive baby, potentially causing serious complications such as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).
Anti-D prophylaxis prevents the formation of these antibodies.
What material is Anti-D made from?
Anti-D is produced from human blood plasma, more specifically from the plasma of volunteer donors who are RhD positive and have been immunized against the Rhesus antigen. These donors are regularly monitored and tested for possible infectious diseases, but not for residues of mRNA vaccinations (e.g. the so-called Covid vaccination). The final product undergoes several purification and viral inactivation processes, which cannot detect or filter out residues of these vaccinations.
Why should anti-D not be prepared with mRNA-contaminated blood?
Contaminated blood is very likely to contain all possible residues of mRNA vaccinations if it comes from a donor who has received one or more Covid vaccinations, for example. There is now sufficient evidence that in this case both the active ingredient and the undesirable, potentially harmful and in some cases undeclared components of these โvaccinationsโ are transferred from the blood donor to the recipient of the medication. This is potentially very problematic for both the recipient of the resulting medication and the child.
Are there alternatives to anti-D prophylaxis?
There is currently no real alternative that offers the same protection without the risk of a sensitized immune response. And, even more regrettably, it is unlikely that the Parma industry will ever be interested in producing drugs such as Rhogam from guaranteed uncontaminated blood plasma, as they would then have to admit that a problem has been swept under the carpet for years.
However, there are a number of complementary measures:
- Determining the father’s blood typeย โ if he is RhD-negative, the baby is likely RhD-negative too.
- Fetal RHD testingย โ using maternal blood to determine the babyโs RhD status non-invasively.
- Monitoring instead of prophylaxisโ in low-risk cases, close monitoring might be considered instead of routine Anti-D administration.
- Research into synthetic or recombinant alternatives โ these are still under development and not yet ready for the market.
When might anti-D prophylaxis not be necessary?
Anti-D prophylaxis is not always absolutely necessary if:
- The child is confirmed RhD negative.
- There was no mixing of blood between mother and baby (e.g., cesarean section without previous contractions).
- The woman will never be pregnant again (because the formation of antibodies is not a cause of future problems).
It is important to weigh the individual risks and discuss them with your midwife or doctor. It is up to you to decide whether you want to forgo anti-D prophylaxis. We recommend that you get the best possible information and discuss the options with a good naturopath.
