US EditionRising Vitamin K Shot Refusal Increases Newborn Brain Injury Risk
Refusal rates rose from 0.9% to 1.6% in Minnesota; infants not receiving vitamin K are 81 times more likely to develop deficiency bleeding, study finds.
- Researchers released a preliminary review yesterday highlighting rising vitamin K refusal by parents of newborns, raising brain injury risks, and will present it at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting in April.
- In recent years, refusal rates for Vitamin K at birth have risen from 0.9% to 1.6% in Minnesota and ranged from 0.2% to 1.3% in California, Connecticut, and Iowa.
- Getting a vitamin K shot right after birth prevents vitamin K deficiency bleeding, with babies missing it 81 times more likely to develop the condition; about 63% had brain bleeds, 40% long-term disabilities, and 14% died.
- Parents who refuse vitamin K are linked to higher odds of skipping vaccines and eye medicine, with Canadians 15 times and New Zealanders 14 times more likely to delay vaccination by 15 months.
- Because the review relied on published studies, researchers cautioned it cannot pinpoint individual risk, noting it examined 25 studies spanning two decades of global data with study limitation: reviewed published research rather than prospective follow-up.
32 Articles
32 Articles
More Parents Say 'No' to Vitamin K Shots for Newborns
(MedPage Today) -- More parents refused to let newborn children have vitamin K shots, which may lead to vitamin K deficiency bleeding and future brain complications, a systematic literature review showed. Refusal in the U.S. remained low but upward...
Rising vitamin K shot refusal increases newborn brain injury risk
Increasing numbers of parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, putting infants at greater risk of avoidable brain injuries, according to a preliminary systematic review released February 26, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.
Study finds more parents saying 'no' to vitamin K at birth, putting babies' brains at risk
Increasing numbers of parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, putting infants at greater risk of avoidable brain injuries, according to a preliminary systematic review released February 26, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18–22, 2026, in Chicago and online.
Newswise
THE TIMES OF BENGALStudy Finds More Parents Saying ‘No’ to Vitamin K, Putting Babies’ Brains at Risk
Increasing numbers of parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, putting infants at greater risk of avoidable brain injuries, according to a preliminary systematic review released February 26, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.
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