Sharp rise in newborn vitamin K refusals heightens bleeding risk across U.S.

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. health records covering more than one million births indicates that the proportion of newborns who did not receive the routine vitamin K injection within the first day rose to 8.1% by June 2026, a 57% increase since January. The omission makes infants 81 times more likely to experience life-threatening brain or gut bleeding, according to the CDC. The uptick follows intensified vaccine skepticism promoted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and an August executive order from Donald Trump echoing his stance.

Pediatric authorities such as Karen Puopolo and Nia Heard-Garris describe the development as alarming, noting that girls are disproportionately affected—8.9% of girls versus 7.3% of boys lacked the shot. To address hospital refusals, practices like Zarminali Pediatrics have begun stocking the injection, and some require parents to sign risk-acknowledgment forms. Lawmakers Kim Schrier and Angela Alsobrooks have pressed the CDC to track refusals, but the agency has not yet released such data. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said the department is reviewing the information and continues to provide guidance on vitamin K.