Why are parents refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns like the study found?

Many parents are refusing vitamin K shots due to misinformation spread on social media and rising vaccine skepticism, mistakenly equating it to a vaccine.

What are the risks for babies who don't get the vitamin K shot, according to experts?

Babies without the vitamin K shot are over 80 times more likely to suffer severe bleeding, including in the brain, which can be fatal.

When did the trend of refusing vitamin K shots begin to accelerate in the US?

The trend of refusing vitamin K shots began accelerating significantly between 2019 and 2020 and continued to rise post-pandemic.

Home / Health / Newborns at Risk: Vitamin K Refusals Soar

Newborns at Risk: Vitamin K Refusals Soar

8 Dec

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Summary

Nearly 4% of over 5 million babies missed vitamin K shots.
Refusals significantly increased from 2019 to 2020.
Lack of the vitamin makes infants 80 times more likely to bleed.

Newborns at Risk: Vitamin K Refusals Soar

A growing number of parents are refusing vitamin K injections for their newborns, a trend that experts fear could have severe consequences. The vitamin is crucial for blood clotting, and babies are born with dangerously low levels. Hospitals began administering these shots routinely in the 1960s to prevent serious bleeding, including in the brain.

The study revealed that approximately 4% of over 5 million infants born between 2017 and 2024 did not receive the vitamin K shot. This percentage climbed from less than 3% in 2017 to over 5% by 2024, with a notable acceleration occurring around 2019-2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts suggest that widespread misinformation, particularly on social media, and increased vaccine skepticism are fueling this decline in vitamin K administration. Unlike vaccines, the vitamin K shot is a supplement, not a vaccine, derived from plants. The consequences of refusal are dire, as untreated infants face an over 80-fold increased risk of bleeding disorders, potentially leading to death.