Endangering Newborns: The Skepticism Causing a Surge in Bleeding Cases Among Infants in the US

A new study in the US reveals a dramatic surge in life-threatening bleeding cases among infants, amid a rise in the number of parents refusing the vitamin K shot after birth. The annual number of cases nearly doubled in 2025 to 1,764.

A new study in the United States reveals a dramatic surge in life-threatening bleeding cases among infants, amid a rise in the number of parents refusing the vitamin K shot after birth. The data shows that the annual number of cases rose from 189 in 2017 to 903 in 2024, and in 2025 nearly doubled to 1,764 cases. The rate of infants receiving the shot dropped from 98% to 95%. Prof. Steven Wolf, one of the study's authors, noted that generations have passed without seeing such an increase in complications. Another study by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia confirmed the link between refusal of the shot and increased risk of bleeding. Researchers link the surge in refusals to increased skepticism toward vaccines. Experts and Democratic lawmakers point a finger at the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while the US Department of Health blames the contradictory guidelines of the Biden administration during COVID. Doctors clarify that the shot is not a vaccine, but parents are confused due to the method of administration. The study authors suggest considering oral vitamin K drops as a harm-reduction alternative for parents who refuse the shot.