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.”
Magical thinking breaks peoples’ brains
Man, I wish there was some super-progressive, pro-science, high-transparency socialist utopia I could go migrate to. It would be so much nicer than living in this droglodyte’s wet dream.
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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People have become so willfully, purposely, proudly ignorant.
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?
TLDR: poor education, poor medical industry/insurance system, poor economy, propaganda/misinformation, everyone has a mental limit; and unfortunately many Americans can’t differentiate between anything they’re having pushed at them/taking in.
Most of the U.S. population can’t afford regular medical care. For some who can, interactions with doctors can at times feel almost hostile (rushed through 15 minutes of a doctor hastily reading from a computer screen, visibly upset if you ask any questions, spoken to like a child), generally physically limited, and an additional financial consideration (new births reporting bills for ‘$1,000+’ for an anesthesiologist literally only leaning into the room the day after birth to ask “feeling alright?” and then leaving.
So, even outside of “anti-science” and/or “anti-vaccine” perspectives, hospitals and doctors are viewed to have a profit seeking motive, and patient interactions can sometimes be incredibly rude (see huge understaffing; partly for that profit seeking from most hospitals; and then just general ‘being an asshole’; because working in medical care doesn’t preclude someone from just being overall inconsiderate and cruel).
Therefore, some may only barely be able to afford being at the hospital for any reason, were possibly treated ‘less than kindly’ by hospital staff somewhere at least once, already have a generally poor U.S. education, living in near squalor like conditions, and are being bombarded from multiple avenues with misinformation regarding almost every aspect of reality. Then, they’re still needing to justify; to themselves and significant portions of their own society; why they deserve food, shelter, housing and any other thing at all because of some idea pushed at everyone that you’re inherently worthless and only those who “prove themselves ‘enough’” are justifying in getting or having… anything.
People are animals, they’ll shutdown and perpetuate into basic survival when overwhelmed enough. A significant amount of the U.S. population sees medical care as a luxury and a nearly illicit money hungry one at that. I fucking hate justifying this type of behavior, but it’s a reality for the growth of many perspectives here. They are cattle and they’ve internally shutdown or don’t have the time, physical resources, or education to differentiate between anything they’re having pushed at them/taking in; and (idk what generalized quantity to use here; most, some? because god damn it feels like most) it’s quite possibly rare for any random U.S. Citizen to read… at all, not even getting to the point of ‘articles online’.
So, generally, no, people in the U.S. may not treat the statements of a doctor with high regard. I try to be empathetic… but it can be really difficult when they can be such fucking assholes.
Great points, and as a citizen of the US, I often forget that many don’t have access to the healthcare me and my peers do, nor is everyone lucky to have the amazing doctors I’ve had. I too have been feeling very scared and often sad; I try to stay logical and seek positive solutions I can apply, BUT IT IS HARD. The general feeling of malaise has thickened the air. I also have more knowledge in some scientific fields than the average person, and logic has always been my comfort and bedrock, so seeking doctors’ advice gives me solace. Focusing on local communities can cause one to forget how a larger population can be affected or how they may respond.
Seems to me that since our “dear leader” is unapologetically trashy, it gives the general population permission to forgo respect or civility. It’s frustrating and can make those of us who try to maintain decorum feel like we are going insane.
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.
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.
Man, sometimes im glad my country just wiped the disease a few decades ago.
It makes people still remember how nasty they used to be.
but these people will buy into all the pseudoscience crap supplements, and go to mds, or tests that plays into this as well.
There is no conflict. There’s medicine and there’s bullshit.
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!
I really don’t get it. What is the end goal of spreading misinformation? Like what do they gain?
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).
Control. They don’t need you to believe their lies. They jus need you ignore the voice of reason.
That’s how fascism works.
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.
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.
It is unfair that babies and children have to suffer the consequences of their moronic parents. However, those morons should understand that doctors and nurses are mandated reporters and a call to CPS will get someone a-knocking on their door for medical neglect.
“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.
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.
Steve from Facebook’s opinions on health have been validated by the US secretary of health, Dr. Brainworms.
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.
