Refusal of Newborn Vitamin K Shot Rises 57% Over Six Months
The proportion of parents declining the routine vitamin K injection for newborns increased from 5.2% to 8.1% between December 2025 and June 2026, raising concerns about higher risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
The share of parents who decline the vitamin K injection for newborns rose sharply, climbing from 5.2% in December 2025 to 8.1% in June 2026, a 57% increase over six months, according to health data. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and newborns have low natural levels, making the injection a standard preventive measure since the 1960s. The National Institutes of Health notes that a single intramuscular dose given within the first day of life has virtually eliminated vitamin K deficiency bleeding nationwide.
Researchers at the American Academy of Neurology report that among infants who develop the condition, about 14% die, roughly 40% suffer long-term neurological impairments such as cognitive deficits, seizures or motor problems, and 63% experience brain hemorrhages.
"It’s really terrifying. It’s like we’re going backwards," said Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, a pediatric physician-scientist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, referring to the growing refusal trend.
The rise follows a period of relatively stable refusal rates, which increased only 1.3% between 2017 and 2019 before the recent surge.