Source: Fortune
Summary
Doctors in the US are concerned about the increasing number of parents refusing routine preventive care for their newborns, including vitamin K shots and hepatitis B vaccines. A recent study found that refusals of vitamin K shots nearly doubled between 2017 and 2024. Parents are citing concerns about natural vs. artificial interventions and are being influenced by misinformation on social media. Doctors are trying to educate parents and address their concerns, but are worried about the potential consequences of these decisions.
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The numbers tell one story. Vitamin K refusals nearly doubled in 7 years. 1 in 5 human infants would die in the first year of life without medical interventions. Doctors are seeing an uptick in refusals across the board, not just for vaccines. The fallacy that natural is always better than artificial is driving these decisions. One common thread ties together anti-vaccine views and growing sentiments against other protective measures: mistrust.
Author: Evan Null
