Lawmakers Call for CDC to Track Vitamin K Shot Refusals

Refusals of the routine vitamin K shot for newborns are increasing, raising concern about preventable cases of severe bleeding that can lead to brain injury or death.

 

Infants who do not receive the injection are 81 times more likely to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding, and the CDC reports that one in five affected babies dies; refusal rates also surpassed 5% of U.S. births in 2024.

With no federal or state system tracking refusals or related outcomes, lawmakers are urging the CDC to begin surveillance to better understand the scope of the issue. Improved data could help guide public health messaging, support clinicians, and strengthen prevention efforts. Read more from ProPublica here.