A federal advisory committee appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted to end the longstanding recommendation to immunize all babies against hepatitis B right after birth, but on Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked all decisions made by the reconfigured committee.
The duration of the block has not been specified. 2% nationwide, according to The Independent. At an Idaho hospital, half the newborns Dr.
When you look at a child who’s innocent and vulnerable — and a simple intervention that’s been done since 1961 is refused — knowing that baby’s going out into the world is super worrisome to me.
Tom Patterson saw on one day did not receive vitamin K shots, The Independent reports. Parents who decline vitamin K shots are much more likely to refuse the hepatitis B vaccine and an eye ointment to prevent potentially blinding infections for their newborns, The Independent states. Rates for the hepatitis B vaccination at birth dropped in recent years, though the exact percentage decline is unclear, and doctors confirm that more parents are refusing the eye medication for newborns, according to The Independent.
The specific reasons why parents are refusing vitamin K shots beyond general skepticism remain unknown. Babies are born with low levels of vitamin K, leaving them vulnerable because their intestines cannot produce enough until they start eating solid foods at around 6 months old, The Independent reports. Vitamin K is important for helping the blood clot and preventing dangerous bleeding in babies, like bleeding into the brain, according to Dr.
I do think these families care deeply about their infants. But I hear from families that it’s hard to make decisions right now because they’re hearing conflicting information.
Kristan Scott. " Neonatologist Kelly Wade added, "I do think these families care deeply about their infants.