Health Concerns Fuel Vaccine Refusals
Idaho hospital denied vitamin K to half of newborns on one day.
Parents cite natural birth preferences and pain fears as refusal reasons.
Dr. Steven Abelowitz links misinformation to vaccine hesitancy.
Vitamin K prevents severe bleeding in newborns; 81x higher risk without it.
Erythromycin and hepatitis B vaccine prevent blindness and liver disease.
Doctors educate parents to improve vaccine acceptance.
Dr. Heather Felton emphasizes nonjudgmental communication.
Refusal rates were rare 12 years ago but now surged.
Idaho AAP reported eight deaths linked to refusal.
Federal advisory committee on vitamin K blocked by judge.
3 weeks ago