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.”
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.
Ugh, as if it were that simple. There are plenty of actual M.D. recipients that spout off about things they know very little about, and trying to explain to an idiot that one doctor (of dermatology) doesn’t cancel or counter the opinion of another doctor (of epidemiology) is like trying to clean cargo ship with a toothbrush.