US newborns miss vitamin K shots as refusals drive preventable bleeding deaths
Updated
Updated · ProPublica · May 6
US newborns miss vitamin K shots as refusals drive preventable bleeding deaths
5 articles · Updated · ProPublica · May 6
A study of more than five million births found over 5% missed the shot in 2024, up 77% since 2017, while some hospitals reported refusal rates doubling or reaching 20%.
Doctors say babies without the injection are 81 times more likely to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding, and the CDC says one in five affected infants dies.
Officials do not systematically track refusals or related deaths, though more than 700 newborns died from spontaneous brain bleeding in 2024 and specialists believe some cases were linked.
Could the surge in vitamin K shot refusals signal a deeper crisis of trust in medical care for newborns in the U.S.?
With VKDB deaths rising and data lacking, could reporting requirements for refusals and outcomes change the trajectory of this silent crisis?
Newborn Vitamin K Shot Refusal Doubles in Seven Years, Increasing Risk of Fatal Bleeding 81-Fold
Overview
Between 2017 and 2024, the refusal rate for the newborn vitamin K shot in the U.S. nearly doubled, rising from 2.92% to 5.18%. This increase exposes more infants to a serious risk of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a rare but potentially fatal condition causing severe bleeding and brain damage. The rise is driven by factors such as misinformation, lack of awareness about VKDB, preference for natural approaches, confusion with vaccines, mistrust amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, social influences, and requests for ineffective oral alternatives. A large study confirmed these trends and highlighted higher refusal rates among certain racial groups and vaginal births. Urgent efforts are needed to reverse this dangerous trend and protect infant health.