Vitamin K studies ignite questions about the newborn shot and ineffective alternatives
False claims about the newborn vitamin K shot are circulating alongside questions about its benefits.
False claims about the newborn vitamin K shot are circulating alongside questions about its benefits.
The practical takeaway
As questions about the vitamin K shot echo broader vaccine concerns, make sure parents can find clear information about what the shot is and why it’s recommended for newborns.
What's happening
New research linking a sharp rise in infant bleeding cases with declining vitamin K shot uptake has brought renewed attention to the shot.
On November 5, JAMA published a study finding that parental refusal of the vitamin K shot—which protects newborns from potentially fatal internal bleeding—more than doubled between 2017 and 2025. A separate study found that cases of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in infants increased by nearly 350 percent over the same period.
In response to news coverage online, many social media users encouraged parents to get the vitamin K shot for their newborns, emphasizing that it can save lives. Others said they had never heard of VKDB and asked whether infants who missed the shot at birth should receive one later. Some also asked whether oral vitamin K drops are safer or more effective than the shot, although there are no FDA-approved oral vitamin K drops for U.S. newborns.
Commenters also spread false claims, alleging that delayed cord clamping prevents the need for the vitamin K shot and that the shot increases the risk of allergies and childhood leukemia. Some suggested—without evidence—that pregnant people should take a vitamin K supplement instead of having their newborns receive the shot, falsely claiming that supplementation during pregnancy provides the same protection against VKDB as the newborn shot.
Questions people are asking
- What is VKDB, and why do newborns need a vitamin K shot at birth?
- Is the vitamin K shot safe?
- Do infants who missed the vitamin K shot at birth need one later?
- Are there effective alternatives to the vitamin K shot, like taking a vitamin K supplement during pregnancy?
What you can do
Public-facing messaging: Emphasize the importance and established safety of the vitamin K shot at birth. When questions or false claims arise, direct people to clear, evidence-based information about the shot and VKDB. Avoid repeating claims about alternatives unless they are prominent in the conversation.
FAQs and websites: Expand prenatal resources to address common questions about the vitamin K shot. Make information easy to find on when VKDB can occur, why all newborns need vitamin K at birth, how researchers know the vitamin K shot is safe, and whether older infants who missed the shot can still receive protection.
Clinical coordination: Prepare health care providers to respond to questions about vitamin K. Equip clinicians with clear talking points about the benefits of the newborn shot and the risks of refusing it. Encourage providers to discuss the shot with expectant parents before delivery.
Community partners: Work with pregnancy-focused partners to share accurate information. Give local organizations, such as prenatal support groups, adaptable materials they can use to address questions about the newborn shot.
What we're watching
The Infodemiology Initiative will track how parents’ questions and concerns about the vitamin K shot evolve, and whether trusted information is reaching them amid growing false claims about newborn care.
Learn more about the Infodemiology Initiative’s monitoring methods.