Study: Vitamin K Shot Decline Raises Bleeding Risk

A recent study published in JAMA reveals a significant increase in newborns declining vitamin K shots, elevating the risk of early-life bleeding. Dr. Thomas Patterson noted that refusals which were once rare have become frequent in his practice since 2022, with some days seeing half the hospital's births receiving no injection. New research from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed over 5.2 million health records and found that between 2017 and 2025, the percentage of infants not receiving birth vitamin K injections more than doubled from 3.1% to 6.8%. Dr. Kristan Scott stated these findings confirm a growing number of babies are unprotected against severe bleeding.