Huntsville Hospital Reports Newborn Vitamin K Refusals Rose to 3% From 2%
Updated
Updated · WBRC · Jun 16
Huntsville Hospital Reports Newborn Vitamin K Refusals Rose to 3% From 2%
3 articles · Updated · WBRC · Jun 16
Summary
Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children said 3% of babies born in 2025 did not receive the vitamin K shot, up from 2% in 2024, and 2026 is tracking at the same rate.
Doctors say the rise reflects broader vaccine hesitancy and societal distrust that intensified around COVID, even though vitamin K has long been recommended to prevent dangerous internal bleeding in newborns.
CDC data cited in the report says babies who miss the shot are 81 times more likely to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding, and 1 in 5 infants with the disorder die.
A JAMA review of more than 5 million births found newborn nonreceipt nationally climbed 77% between 2017 and 2024, from 2.92% to 5.18%, while Alabama does not track refusals or VKDB deaths statewide.
Hospitals across Alabama generally require refusal waivers and counseling; some, including UAB facilities and North Alabama Medical Center, will not perform circumcisions without the shot.
Why are newborn girls more likely than boys to be denied a shot that prevents fatal bleeding?
A 60-year-old medical standard is being rejected. Is a fatal infant bleeding disease about to make a comeback?
The Growing Crisis of Vitamin K Shot Refusals: How Misinformation and Mistrust Threaten Newborn Safety in the U.S.
Overview
Across the United States, there is a growing decline in newborns receiving the vital vitamin K shot, which is essential for preventing dangerous bleeding. Medical professionals are increasingly alarmed, warning that this trend is creating a population of infants at risk for severe complications, especially bleeding into the brain. Such bleeding can lead to stroke, permanent brain damage, or even death. Although vitamin K deficiency is entirely preventable, the success of the shot has made these severe outcomes rare, causing some parents to underestimate the risks and refuse the shot, which could lead to more severe bleeding events in the future.