Full Breakdown
Surge in Vitamin K Shot Refusals Fuels Infant Bleeding Deaths
5/9/2026, 6:28:09 AM
Surge in Vitamin K Refusals and Infant Bleeding
In 2024, 5 percent of U.S. newborns missed the vitamin K injection at birth, a 77 percent rise since 2017. The rise coincides with more VKDB cases, which can cause hemorrhage and death.
Background: Vitamin K’s Role in Newborn Care
Vitamin K is essential for clotting; newborns have minimal stores, so a single intramuscular dose at birth has been routine, eliminating VKDB before the recent refusal trend.
Data & Statistics: Rising Refusals and Mortality
CDC says infants without the shot are 81 times more likely to develop severe bleeding, and one in five VKDB cases is fatal. Over 700 newborns died from brain bleeds in 2024. Refusals have risen to 5 percent nationally, with some systems noting a doubling and linked deaths.
Key Figures
Key figures: Dr. Allison Henry (Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital), Dr. Ivan Hand (Kings County Hospital), Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Washington), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Kayla Hancock (Protect Our Care).
Official Statements
CDC reaffirmed the vitamin K shot as standard care and warned VKDB can occur silently in the brain or intestines. An HHS spokesperson emphasized its routine status, linked refusals to communication gaps, and said Biden administration is working to counter misinformation. In December 2025, FDA began reviewing an RSV monoclonal-antibody drug, reflecting scrutiny of treatments.
Criticism
Kayla Hancock blames anti-vaccine propaganda amplified by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for fostering unfounded fear of the vitamin K shot, arguing that the misinformation endangers infants.
On-the-Ground Cases
Cases include a 7-week-old boy in Maryland with seizures, an 11-pound girl in Alabama with apnea, a Kentucky infant who vomited before lethargy, and a Texas newborn who bled at the umbilicus; autopsies linked death to VKDB.
Conflicting Reports
National databases do not systematically track vitamin K refusals, so estimates rely on hospital data. Reported infant deaths range from “hundreds” in reviews to “over 700” in 2024, highlighting documentation gaps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This was not something we even bothered to spend much educational effort on, because there was this simple, safe intervention,” — Dr. Allison Henry, Director, Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital
- “I’ve never said, literally never said, anything about it,” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
- “That’s exactly the point,” — Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Washington)
- “You don’t say anything about it, but the doubt you’ve created about all of medicine and science is causing parents to make dangerous decisions.” — Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Washington)
What’s Next
The House subcommittee continues to request statements from HHS Secretary Kennedy. FDA’s RSV-drug review may prompt labeling changes affecting parental confidence. Health agencies plan expanded outreach on vitamin K safety and systematic monitoring of refusal rates.
