More parents are rejecting this shot for newborns. Why babies need it

Key Points:

• Two new studies published on Nov. 5 reveal a rise in life-threatening infant bleeding in the U.S., linked to increasing parental refusal of the vitamin K shot given at birth to prevent such bleeding.
• The first study found a decline in newborns receiving vitamin K shots from 97.7% in 2017 to 95% in 2025, with vitamin K deficiency bleeding nearly quadrupling; the second study showed refusal rates more than doubling from 3.1% to 6.8% and a 47% higher bleeding risk in infants not receiving the shot.
• Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting and has been recommended since 1961 to prevent serious bleeding in newborns, who are naturally deficient; refusal is associated with misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and a preference for "natural" births.
• Experts link declining vitamin K shot acceptance to growing public mistrust in health interventions, amplified by mixed messages from officials and misinformation, including false vaccine-related concerns and debunked cancer links.
• The CDC continues to recommend the vitamin K shot but has not committed to tracking refusal or bleeding rates; health professionals urge clear communication on the shot's safety and effectiveness to prevent preventable infant bleeding deaths.