Increase in bleeding in babies linked to lack of vitamin K

The incidence of potentially fatal bleeding in infants in the U.S. has risen significantly since 2017, correlating with an increase in parents refusing vitamin K injections for newborns. Two studies indicate a direct link between the decline in vitamin K administration and the rise in bleeding cases, amidst growing distrust in vaccines and healthcare. Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting, and its injection shortly after birth has been standard practice for over 60 years. One study found that the percentage of newborns receiving the injection dropped from 97.7% to 95%, while bleeding cases nearly quadrupled. Another study revealed that refusal rates more than doubled from 3.1% to 6.8% between 2017 and 2025, with unvaccinated infants facing a 47% higher risk of bleeding. The trend of vaccine refusal has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who have questioned vaccine safety. Experts warn that this growing skepticism is leading to…