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The vitamin K injection administered to newborns shortly after birth has become a cause for concern for some families in the United States. Although its administration is a preventive measure recommended by health professionals, some parents choose to decline it; it was recently reported that cases of infant hemorrhage have increased in the U.S., according to a published study.
Two studies published on November 5th linked the decline in the administration of vitamin K injections to newborns with a marked increase in cases of infant hemorrhage, including potentially life-threatening brain hemorrhages.
A research article published by JAMA Pediatrics analyzed data from approximately 11 million infants between 2017 and 2025 and revealed that vitamin K administration dropped from 97.7% to 95%, while cases of vitamin K deficiency bleeding nearly quadrupled.
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A second study, published in JAMA Pediatrics and based on data from 5.2 million infants in the United States, found that refusal rates for vitamin K administration doubled, rising from 3.1% in 2017 to 6.8% in 2025.
Infants who did not receive the injection showed a 47% higher risk of experiencing hemorrhages and a two-fold higher risk of suffering from intracranial hemorrhages.
What is the purpose of the vitamin K injection in newborns?
Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that allows the body to produce proteins necessary for blood clotting and to stop bleeding.
Babies are born with very low stores of this vitamin for three main reasons: they receive limited amounts through the placenta during pregnancy, they do not yet have an intestinal population of bacteria capable of producing it, and breast milk contains reduced amounts.
For this reason, newborns have a higher vulnerability to developing Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, a condition also known as VKDB.
The intramuscular injection administered after birth provides a sufficient amount of vitamin K to prevent this problem during the first months of life.
Why do some parents refuse the vitamin K injection for their babies?
According to experts, a factor contributing to the decline in the administration of the vitamin K injection at birth is contradictory messaging from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, specialists noted that misinformation on the internet presented on social media by influencers also plays a role.
What risks does a baby face if they do not receive vitamin K at birth?
The main risk of refusing the injection is that the newborn may develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This disorder can lead to internal bleeding, gastrointestinal hemorrhages, and intracranial bleeding, meaning bleeding inside the brain.
What are the symptoms of vitamin K deficiency in babies?
According to MedlinePlus, vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding; the most common areas of bleeding include:
- Sitio de la circuncisión
- La zona del ombligo
- El tracto gastrointestinal (resultando en presencia de sangre en las heces del bebé)
- Las membranas mucosas (como el revestimiento de la nariz y la boca)
- Lugares donde ha habido una punción con aguja
- Cerebro.
It can also present as:
- Sangre en la orina
- Hematomas
- Convulsiones (ataques) o comportamiento anormal debido al sangrado dentro del cráneo
Is the vitamin K injection dangerous for newborns?
The vitamin K injection is considered safe by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The most common side effects are mild and are related to the injection site. They may include pain, bruising, or swelling in the thigh where the dose is administered.
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