It’s not just vaccines — parents are refusing other routine preventive care for newborns
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Refusals of vitamin K shots for newborns in the U.S. nearly doubled from 2.9% to 5.2% between 2017 and 2024, raising concerns among pediatricians about increased risks of potentially deadly bleeding.
- Parents declining vitamin K shots often also refuse other preventive newborn treatments like the hepatitis B vaccine and erythromycin eye ointment, influenced by misinformation, mistrust of medical advice, and a preference for "natural" approaches.
- Vitamin K deficiency can cause severe bleeding, including brain hemorrhages, with newborns who skip the shot being 81 times more likely to develop serious bleeding; doctors report preventable deaths linked to refusal of this routine care.
- Medical professionals emphasize respectful
