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Vitamin K Refusal Soars: Parents Risk Newborn Health

12/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that parents are refusing newborn vitamin K shots, rising from less than 3% in 2017 to more than 5% in 2024.
Infants not receiving the shot are over 80 times more likely to bleed.
Experts attribute it to vaccine skepticism and misinformation.
Some countries use oral vitamin K supplements, which are less effective.

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Story summary

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that parents are refusing newborn vitamin K shots, rising from less than 3% in 2017 to more than 5% in 2024.
Infants not receiving the shot are over 80 times more likely to bleed.
Experts attribute it to vaccine skepticism and misinformation.
Some countries use oral vitamin K supplements, which are less effective.