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.”
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.
The first two are aspects of fascism: reversion to traditionalism and high importance given to machismo.
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/umberto-eco-ur-fascism
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.
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.
I’ve already given up and started embracing misanthropy. Its the only way I haven’t thrown myself off a cliff at this point.
“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.
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.
I really don’t get it. What is the end goal of spreading misinformation? Like what do they gain?
Control. They don’t need you to believe their lies. They jus need you ignore the voice of reason.
That’s how fascism works.
If people refuse science and the scientific thought, they will be manipulated by politics easily
A population that is broken by disease and grief is a population that isn’t demanding a better world. The propaganda that is making people anti-science is originates from the ruling class and it’s a deliberate act of class warfare.
They’re literally trying to reduce the population. That’s why their deportation goals are so high
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).
but they’re probably still snipping off foreskin as if it somehow actually serves a rational purpose.
This was the plan.
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Republicans believe they are killing off the weak, leaving only the common people who are most fit to work.
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If people begin to replace modern medicine with magic, no more need for employers to offer health care, and of course we can get rid of that wasteful Medicare.
See? Follow the money.
I don’t agree with “no more need for employers to offer health care”. At least in the USA.
I believe that employer provide health insurance is very much an important point to continual enslavement of our population. Making the population immobile is great benefit to controlling it. Health insurance is expensive so the population has to have employer provided health insurance. It is incredibly difficult to uproot your life due to many factors, health insurance is a huge one.
It’s called a benefit when really it is a scam. I am reminded of the recent comic where they tried to buy something but it was like $1000 and the person was like “omg thats absurd” but then were offered the bill of $300 with insurance and the person was like “oh, well thats not as bad”. That is exactly how employer provided health insurance is a thing. Employer health insurance is far cheaper than personal health insurance.
If I went to a different employer, I would have to wait 90 days before I am allowed to sign up for that scam. We had guys at work that were worth millions and yet they worked there for the health insurance. They made more money on their side projects but they needed health insurance.
The USA will never see any government health care plan expanded to include those that can work.
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Up next: HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr endorses Brawndo Infant Thirst Mutilator.
This would be funny if there weren’t real children being irrevocably harmed. Babies are defenseless, and innocent. They don’t deserve this.
Both my kids had jaundice and had to be under a blue light for a few days after birth. Not doing so doesn’t necessarily kill the kid, but it can cause brain damage.
I wonder if these parents are refusing this, it’s a bit unsettling so I bet they are, which is an upsetting thought. :/
Generation beta? More like generation better stay inside or you’ll catch a preventable desease.
And you know those parents would be the first to sue the hospital if something happened to their kid
Those babies:
