Doctors across the nation are alarmed that skepticism fueled by rising anti-science sentiment and medical mistrust is increasingly reaching beyond vaccines to other proven, routine, preventive care for babies.
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which analyzed more than 5 million births nationwide, found that refusals of vitamin K shots nearly doubled between 2017 and 2024, from 2.9% to 5.2%. Other research suggests that parents who decline vitamin K shots are much more likely to refuse getting their newborns the hepatitis B vaccine and an eye ointment to prevent potentially blinding infections. Rates for that vaccination at birth dropped in recent years, and doctors confirm that more parents are refusing the eye medication.
“I do think these families care deeply about their infants,” said Dr. Kelly Wade, a Philadelphia neonatologist. “But I hear from families that it’s hard to make decisions right now because they’re hearing conflicting information.”
People have become so willfully, purposely, proudly ignorant.
I hope those moms refused an epidural during childbirth. After all, there’s lots of conflicting information.
I say that sarcastically, but I know there’s a movement for all natural childbirths. We’re past sarcasm.
So… these people aren’t even listening to their doctors? I get being confused as a laymen when reading a bunch of articles online when half of everything is AI now, but your actual doctor? Isn’t that what they’re there for?
One thing I’ve always noticed about “millennial” news stories like this, another explanation could almost always be poverty.
I say this as someone who grew up poor enough to have to take medical advice with a grain of salt.
Exactly. Some “specialist” walks in, ticks a form on a clipboard, and it just added $2k to your bill. I don’t know if it’s mistrust of science vs. mistrust of the for-obscene-profit medical establishment.
but these people will buy into all the pseudoscience crap supplements, and go to mds, or tests that plays into this as well.
I really don’t get it. What is the end goal of spreading misinformation? Like what do they gain?
They’re literally trying to reduce the population. That’s why their deportation goals are so high
If people refuse science and the scientific thought, they will be manipulated by politics easily
The U.S. had one of the worst responses to COVID-19 in the world under Trump 1 in terms of number of deaths per capita. The scientists that point this out are a vector of accountability for Trump. Trump and his acolytes in the media could loose power if Trump were held to account for the mass death caused directly by his incompetence (or maliciousness).
A sick population is easier to control. I know our oligarchs and 95% of the Republican party are networked with the best science-following doctors around.
Control. They don’t need you to believe their lies. They jus need you ignore the voice of reason.
That’s how fascism works.
There is no conflict. There’s medicine and there’s bullshit.
The very tired cynic in me is simply saying, “fine, it will cull the moron genes from the pool”.
If I take a moment to actually connect with my basic humanity… I’m horrified.
“fine, it will cull the moron genes from the pool”.
The issue with this is that most people will be ok, or at least alive but injured.
It actually had the opposite effect. Most people won’t die, so then they get confirmation bias and will then start spreading the misinformation themselves saying “I didn’t take the medicine and I’m fine!” Or even use their kids as proof for other parents.
It’s a snowball effect.
I’ve already given up and started embracing misanthropy. Its the only way I haven’t thrown myself off a cliff at this point.
They propagate far faster than the diseases can take them. While they refuse preventative measures, most wouldn’t hesitate to get treated once an infection gets serious so their stupidity lives on.
conflicting ? a Professor of Virology talking about vaccines and Steve from Facebook ranting are not conflicting sources.
Steve from Facebook’s opinions on health have been validated by the US secretary of health, Dr. Brainworms.
but they’re probably still snipping off foreskin as if it somehow actually serves a rational purpose.
refusals of vitamin K shots nearly doubled
TIL:
https://www.chop.edu/pediatric-health-chat/vitamin-k-newborn-babyOne shot of vitamin K given to a baby after delivery can prevent devastating bleeding and strokes.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/vitamin-k-shot.html
Until they (babies) start eating solid food at about 6 months of age, babies don’t have enough naturally produced vitamin K.
Seems like something you would want to give your child.
You’d think, right? It’s not about logic, unfortunately.
Remember, never change a car’s oil either! Who knows what they’re putting in there!
Don’t let big oil win! Just put in a couple gallons of olive oil and you should be good
Olive oil?
In american cars?
Clearly american mucscle cars require maple syrup!
Italian oil in my muricar??? I use fish oil supplements made from American fish! My mechanic was so impressed that I fit so many capsules that she called it “unbelievable!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vlR94GOJ-E It works for Tony!
They’ve attacked our public schools for decades to make us susceptible to their lies. And, this is one of the things they’re lying about, now. I don’t understand why. Why this?
I’d argue it comes down to three factors:
One, the rejection of modernism. People will argue that things were great in the past and now we are a fallen people (thus the popularity of the MAGA rallying cry). Obviously then, everything modern is suspect as it may be part what robbed us of our ‘greatness’.
Two, machismo. Among many illness is seen as punishment for some nebulous moral failing. You’re sick? Oh, you must not of eaten right, or you didn’t work out enough, or god is punishing you, etc. As such protecting yourself from disease is un-manly. You saw this a lot during COVID, masks were “face diapers” and Covid was “just the flu” and only the “libtards” were getting the vaccine (which via point one was was branded the “clot-shot”). Covid was seen kind of like a “Snake handling” ritual, proof that you are “moral” enough to live through it as well as proof you don’t fear death.
Three contrarianism. We all know this one. “If it’s popular it must be bad!” is a creed has holds a deep grasp in the psyche of many. Usually it’s pretty trivial, it doesn’t really matter if you liked <band> but hated them when they hit the mainstream. However when contrarianism starts getting applied to lifesaving medical procedures you start having problems.
The fourth factor is probably actually how poorly women are treated by doctors/ western medicine. Once all that is exposed and validated, these families are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Easy to convince someone that doctors don’t care what’s best for them after several doctors mistreat them.
Thank you for bringing this up. I’m liking both this comment and the one above.
I think sometimes in an effort to mock MAGA, we may over-legitimize doctors. They’re just people, just like us, and there is a looooong history of medical malpractice and systemic abuse—much by the same forces MAGA is allied with.
Then there is the 4th…at least for medical services…costs. If you can’t afford the good insurance, everything costs so much more money. Even adults are putting off exams and preventative care because wallets are being squeezed from all sides.
Even with the shittiest insurance most basic preventative stuff like vaccines is covered… because they’d rather cover the simple cheap shit and not have you come in later when your kid is dying of polio or some shit.
yup, preventative appts are free for once per year. they cover most if not all vaccines, except if your not in the age range for some of them like shingles, or meningicoccal vaccine, or RSV.
Oh, I diunno… Sounds profitable.
It’s not because you won’t be able to pay
They want you coming in for minor stuff long term, using up your deductible and barely paying copays not incurring a huge cost then dying
This would be funny if there weren’t real children being irrevocably harmed. Babies are defenseless, and innocent. They don’t deserve this.
Those babies:
