- More infants are dying in the U.S. than in the last two decades, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
- The U.S. provisional infant mortality rate rose 3% from 2021 to 2022 — the first increase since 2001 to 2002
- Infant mortality in the U.S. rose from 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2021 to 5.6 in 2022, representing 20,538 deaths in infants under 12 months in 2022
- Other research found the 2020 infant mortality rate in the U.S, — 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births — was the highest of all the countries analyzed; Norway had just 1.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, for comparison
- In the U.S., life expectancy is three to five years lower than that in other high-income countries, despite higher health care spending. Adopting a holistic approach to health can help you maintain wellness at all life stages
(Mercola)—More infants are now dying in the U.S. than in the last two decades, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).1 The U.S. provisional infant mortality rate rose 3% from 2021 to 2022 — the first increase since 2001 to 2002. Prior to this increase, infant mortality rates had declined 22% between 2002 and 2021.
“Seeing an increase that hits the statistical significance mark indicates that this was a bigger jump than we’ve had in the last 20 years, and that is something we need to keep an eye on to see if it’s just a one-year anomaly or the start of increasing rates,” study author Danielle M. Ely, an NCHS health statistician, told The New York Times.2
The rise in infant mortality comes alongside other concerning health care news, including a drop in life expectancy, signaling deeper problems with the state of U.S. medical care.3 Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to stay healthy at all life stages.
US Infant Mortality on the Rise
Infant mortality in the U.S. rose from 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2021 to 5.6 in 2022. Overall, this represents 20,538 deaths in infants under 12 months in 2022, up from 19,928 the year prior.4 From 2021 to 2022, there were notable increases in mortality rates across several categories in particular:5
- Neonatal and postneonatal infant deaths — Neonatal deaths, which are those that occur before the 28th day of life, rose 3%, while postneonatal deaths, those that occur between 28 and 364 days of life, rose 4%.
- Infants born to American Indian, Alaska Native and white women — Mortality rates increased significantly from 7.46 deaths per 1,000 live births to 9.06 among infants of American Indian and Alaska Native women, as well as from 4.36 to 4.52 among white women.
- Infants born to women ages 25 to 29 — Infant mortality rates increased significantly in this group, from 5.15 deaths per 1,000 live births to 5.37.
- Male infants — Deaths among male infants rose from 5.83 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 6.06.
- Infants in four states — Infant mortality rates increased in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas.
Among the leading causes of death, infant mortality rates increased in cases of maternal complications and bacterial sepsis, according to the report.6 “Maternal complications may reflect the worsening state of care for pregnant women, about 6 million of whom live in areas devoid of maternal care. Also, pregnant women have increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions,” medical and science writer Janice Hopkins Tanne wrote in the BMJ.7
In 2022, more than one-third of the 3,143 counties in the U.S were classified as maternity “deserts” without hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care, and with no obstetric providers. The lack of care was blamed on finances, as obstetric care services are “deemed unprofitable.”8
Were the COVID-19 Pandemic — and COVID Jabs — Involved?
The rise in infant mortality in 2022 could have links to the pandemic, since most babies born that year were conceived in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic — and the year that COVID-19 shots were widely rolled out. Maternal deaths rose by 40% during the pandemic9 and increases in stillbirths were reported.10
By November 12, 2021, there were 2,620 cases of fetal death or stillbirth among women who received a COVID-19 injection reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).11 Health Impact News ran the same VAERS search but excluded COVID-19 injections — so looking for fetal deaths in women who had been vaccinated with any vaccine other than a COVID-19 jab over the last 30+ years. They found:12
“We are currently on pace to see a yearly total of 2,838 recorded fetal deaths following COVID-19 shots, while the yearly average of recorded fetal deaths following the vaccination of pregnant women for the past 30 years has been an average of 74 fetal deaths per year.”
Problems began to appear shortly after COVID-19 shots were rolled out, such that a leaked email from a large California hospital was sent out in warning to 200 nurses. The email, from September 2022, contained the subject line, “Demise Handling,” referring to an increase in stillbirths and fetal deaths. A TCW report by journalist Sally Beck shared the email’s content, which read:13
“It seems as though the increase of demise patients [babies] that we are seeing is going to continue. There were 22 demises [stillbirths and fetal deaths] in August [2022], which ties [equals] the record number of demises in July 2021, and so far in September [2022] there have been 7 and it’s only the 8th day of the month.”
Beck reports that one nurse, Michelle Gershman, who works in the neonatal ward had her bonus withheld because she spoke out about the rise in fetal deaths. “We used to have one fetal demise per month. That rose to one or two per week,” Gershman said. Beck reported:14
“Her experience, and the experience of doctors working with pregnant women, is contrary to official ‘safe and effective’ observation and advice, but no one was free to speak out because of a gagging order imposed in September 202115 by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
… At the beginning of the rollout, in December 2020, pregnant women who were healthcare workers or deemed to be at risk from Covid began receiving the shots.
By May 2021, the vaccine was being recommended to all pregnant American women, despite the fact that none of the vaccine manufacturers had completed reproductive toxicology reports in animals, and none had started clinical trials in pregnant women. Two months later, hospitals noticed a huge increase in miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm births, pregnancy complications and menstrual abnormalities.”
Board-certified internist and cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough stated COVID-19 shots should be given the Category X designation during pregnancy,16 which means, “The risk of use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit. The drug is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant.”17
US Has Worst Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates Despite Highest Spending
The rising trend in infant mortality comes amidst already high mortality rates compared to other countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
A report from the Commonwealth Fund compared U.S. health care to that in the listed countries, revealing, “The U.S. has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions, the highest maternal and infant mortality, and among the highest suicide rates.”18
The 2020 infant mortality rate in the U.S. — 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births — was the highest of all the countries analyzed. Norway had just 1.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, for comparison. Maternal mortality in the U.S. was also three-fold higher than most other high-income countries:19
“Women in the U.S. have long had the highest rate of maternal mortality related to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In 2020, there were nearly 24 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S., more than three times the rate in most of the other high-income countries we studied.
A high rate of cesarean section, inadequate prenatal care, and socioeconomic inequalities contributing to chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease may all help explain high U.S. infant and maternal mortality.”
The poor outcomes occur despite high spending on health care. “While the United States spends more on health care than any other high-income country, the nation often performs worse on measures of health and health care,” the report found. “… Other countries have achieved better health outcomes while spending much less on health care overall.”20
Past research published in the journal Human & Experimental Toxicology also showed infant mortality rates correlated with childhood vaccination rates, with high-uptake countries having higher child mortality.21 A reanalysis of the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cureus in February 2023, reaffirmed the positive correlation between number of vaccine doses and infant mortality rates.22
US Life Expectancy Lower Than Other High-Income Countries
In the U.S., life expectancy is also three to five years lower than that in other high-income countries.23 In 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced that life expectancy had dropped for two years in a row from 2020 to 2021, declining by nearly one year in that time.24
“That decline – 77.0 to 76.1 years – took U.S. life expectancy at birth to its lowest level since 1996. The 0.9 year drop in life expectancy in 2021, along with a 1.8 year drop in 2020, was the biggest two-year decline in life expectancy since 1921-1923,” the CDC stated.25
Medical errors remain a leading cause of death in the U.S., where an estimated 795,000 people become permanently disabled or die every year due to misdiagnoses.26 Among hospitalized adults who died or were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), diagnostic errors are also disturbingly common.27
Describing diagnostic errors as “the most under-resourced public health crisis we face,” researchers with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said the public is largely unaware of the full scope of medical misdiagnoses in the U.S.28
One review of nearly 300 studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality showed about 1 in 18 people who visit an emergency room will be misdiagnosed, 1 in 50 will suffer an adverse event as a result and 1 in 350 will suffer from permanent disability or death.29
Out of the 130 million visits to emergency departments (EDs) that occur every year in the U.S., this amounts to 7.4 million misdiagnoses, 2.6 million related adverse events and 370,000 serious harms from diagnostic error.30
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
Protecting the Health of Future Generations
To address rising infant mortality rates in the U.S., experts recommend ensuring that all pregnant women have access to comprehensive prenatal care to help identify and manage health conditions that may lead to infant mortality.
In addition, initiatives aimed at improving women’s health before and during pregnancy can reduce the risks associated with childbirth and infancy. This includes managing chronic conditions, promoting healthy lifestyles and providing mental health support.
Returning to fundamental health practices, such as consuming whole foods, getting high-quality sleep, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining daily activity and managing stress, is crucial. Additionally, each reduction in toxic exposure contributes to improved health.
Therefore, it’s essential not only to incorporate healthy habits but also to eliminate potentially harmful elements, especially during pregnancy. This includes toxic personal care and cleaning products, electromagnetic field exposures and unnecessary medications — and that includes the COVID shots. By adopting a holistic approach to health, you can help maintain wellness at all life stages.
Orwell’s Warning
Sadly, the increase in infant mortality likely has to do with pregnant women being advised to get the COVID shot during pregnancy. The media have been known as “the Fourth Estate” because they have the power and capacity for advocacy and the framing of political issues. But when it comes to the mRNA jabs — whether intentionally or through ignorance — the media have misled the people, resulting in needless death and suffering.
Rather than investigating and shedding light on important issues and concerns, they’ve hidden and suppressed one side of the story and twisted the other side out of all proportion. Orwellian doublespeak has also become commonplace.
In George Orwell’s “1984,” the context is a society where an all-knowing, all-seeing “Big Brother” rules with an iron fist. Citizens are under constant watch. Privacy is nonexistent, and language is twisted to justify and glorify oppression. Tragically, many so embraced the fear culture, they didn’t even need an authoritarian figure to tell them to comply with rules, even when it was clear they had no medical benefit. Rising infant mortality rates and excess death rates are the result.
- 1 NCHS Vital Statistics Rapid Release, November 2023, Report No. 33
- 2, 9 The New York Times November 1, 2023
- 3 The American Journal of Managed Care January 31, 2023
- 4, 7 BMJ 2023;383:p2569
- 5, 6 U.S. CDC November 1, 2023
- 8 BMJ 2022;379:o2487
- 10 The Phaser November 18, 2021 (Archived)
- 11, 12 Health Impact News November 20, 2021
- 13, 14 TCW March 20, 2023
- 15 The Gazette of Medical Sciences March 1, 2022
- 16 Substack, Courageous Discourse March 2, 2023
- 17 America Out Loud November 28, 2022
- 18, 19, 20 The Commonwealth Fund, U.S. Health Care From a Global Perspective, 2022, January 31, 2023
- 21 Human & Experimental Toxicology May 4, 2011
- 22 Cureus February 2, 2023; 15(2): e34566
- 23 CNBC April 11, 2023
- 24, 25 U.S. CDC, August 31, 2022
- 26 BMJ Quality & Safety Published Online First: 17 July 2023. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2021-014130
- 27 JAMA Intern Med. Published online January 8, 2024. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.7347
- 28 USA Today July 18, 2023
- 29, 30 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Diagnostic Errors in the Emergency Department August 14, 2023
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
