Alarming Number of Babies Are Bleeding to Death as More Parents Refuse Vitamin K Shots at Birth

Concerns are mounting among medical professionals as the refusal rate for vitamin K injections in newborns has risen dramatically, resulting in increased instances of potentially life-threatening bleeding in infants. This alarming trend has been linked to a growing scepticism surrounding vaccines, despite the fact that vitamin K shots are not classified as vaccines.

A report by ProPublica, published on 6 May, surveyed numerous medical records across the United States, revealing a worrying rise in cases of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). This condition can lead to catastrophic outcomes, including brain damage and death, as it poses a risk of bleeding in critical areas such as the brain and intestines. Medical experts interviewed by ProPublica noted that this spike in VKDB cases corresponds with a notable hesitancy among parents to permit their babies to receive the vital vitamin K injection at birth.

Newborns do not carry sufficient levels of vitamin K when they are born, making the administration of a single injection crucial for proper blood clotting. Statistics from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight that babies who forgo this injection are 81 times more likely to develop severe bleeding. Furthermore, one in five infants experiencing VKDB may suffer fatal complications arising from the condition.

The reluctance to administer vitamin K shots appears to be part of a broader trend of vaccine hesitancy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already led to declines in vaccination rates for childhood diseases such as measles and hepatitis B. In a particularly striking example from 2024, more than 700 newborns reportedly died from spontaneous bleeding in their brains, with medical specialists suggesting that a significant proportion of these cases was attributable to vitamin K deficiency.

Doctors from Mercy Hospital, which operates birthing centres across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, reported an increase in parents opting out of vitamin K shots since the pandemic began. In 2025, a total of 1,552 newborns at these facilities declined the injection, a sharp increase from 536 in 2021. Evidence from St. Luke’s Health System in Idaho also reveals an upward trend in refusal rates, with at least two infants dying within a year due to complications related to VKDB.

A national analysis published in December in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined over five million births, finding that refusal rates for vitamin K injections had risen to 5% in 2024. This marked a staggering 77% increase since 2017, raising alarm among healthcare providers who believed that the threat of VKDB had been largely eradicated thanks to the effective use of the vitamin K shot.

Dr. Allison Henry, who oversees newborn services at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, expressed concern over this shift, noting that the successful history of vitamin K administration led many to assume that the risk of VKDB had dissipated. In agreement, Dr. Ivan Hand, a neonatology director at Kings County Hospital Center in New York, remarked that the medical community may be facing the consequences of its own success, as previous achievements in reducing VKDB incidence have resulted in misconceptions about its existence.

In recent discussions, Representative Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) addressed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the rise in vitamin K refusal. She attributed this trend to an environment of distrust he has cultivated towards medical professionals and vaccinations. Schrier urged Kennedy to take a public stance promoting vitamin K vaccinations for newborns, asserting that the doubt he has cast over medical practices is leading parents to make perilous choices for their children.

Kennedy, in response, stated during a House hearing on 21 April that he had never made any public comments regarding vitamin K. Schrier countered this by highlighting the implications of his silence, noting that his scepticism surrounding medical science could lead to dangerous consequences for children.

With the refusal rates of vitamin K injections on the rise, healthcare professionals are increasingly concerned that such hesitancy could reverse the progress made in safeguarding newborn health. Their calls for education and public engagement are critical to reversing this trend and ensuring that infants receive the necessary protections against potentially life-altering conditions.