Vitamin K Deficiency Causes Bleeding in Children – How To Get a Shot
Summary
Two studies published November 5 found that vitamin K deficiency bleeding among U.S. infants rose as more parents declined the newborn vitamin K shot. The shot helps babies’ blood clot and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics; researchers found that infants who did not receive it faced higher bleeding risks.Key Facts
- A study of medical records for more than 11 million U.S. infants found vitamin K deficiency bleeding diagnoses increased by 347.1% from 2017 to 2025.
- In that study, the share of newborns who received the shot fell from 97.7% in 2017 to 95% in 2025.
- A separate study of more than 5.2 million infants found the share who did not receive the shot rose from 3.1% in 2017 to 6.8% in 2025.
- Infants who did not receive the shot had a 47% higher adjusted risk of bleeding in their first six months than infants who received it.
- The second study found that infants who did not receive the shot had more than twice the risk of bleeding inside the skull.
- Researchers estimated one additional bleeding event for every 114 newborns who did not receive the shot.
- The injection is usually given in a baby’s thigh within six hours of birth and is a vitamin supplement, not a vaccine.
- Newborns have low vitamin K levels, and breast milk contains relatively little of the nutrient.
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