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US Refusals of Crucial Newborn Vitamin Spike, Raising Risk of Dangerous Bleeding
Health records for more than 1 million births found non-receipt rose to 8.1% by late June, leaving more newborns at risk of bleeding.
Newborn vitamin K refusal rates jumped more than 57% from January through June 2026, according to health data company Truveta's analysis of over 1 million births nationwide.
Pediatricians link rising hesitancy to shifting federal health policies under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump, who have questioned routine childhood immunizations.
By June's end, 8.1% of U.S. infants had not received the shot, up from 5.2% six months prior, with 8.9% of girls and 7.3% of boys unprotected.
Dr. Amanda Furr, chief medical officer of Zarminali Pediatrics, has begun stocking the injection in primary care practices to counter the trend.
Without the injection, infants are 81 times more likely to suffer life-threatening bleeding during their first six months, the CDC warns, prompting Dr. Nia Heard-Garris of Lurie Children's Hospital to stress infant safety concerns.