Uptick in vitamin K prophylaxis refusal could increase neurologic harm among newborns
Investigators may have identified rising rates of vitamin K prophylaxis refusal among the parents of newborns.
In an abstract presented at the 2026 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, investigators used PubMed and Google Scholar to conduct a systematic literature review exploring the trends in intramuscular vitamin K prophylaxis uptake and neurologic outcomes in 25 studies. They explained that these injections are capable of preventing vitamin K deficiency bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, neurologic disability and death.
The investigators found that while the rate of forgoing vitamin K prophylaxis in the United States and many countries internationally is still low, these rates have begun to rise. For instance, vitamin K prophylaxis refusal increased to 1.6% in Minnesota in 2019 and up to 1.3% in California, Connecticut and Iowa between 2018 and 2019. Further, Canada, Scotland and New Zealand now face a 1% to 3% refusal rate. Without receiving the injections, newborns are often at an increased risk of experiencing late vitamin K deficiency bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage. Across the case series examined, about 14% of these newborns without prophylaxis died and about 40% of those who survived experienced subsequent neurologic disability. The investigators revealed that the parents who refused vitamin K prophylaxis were more likely to prefer home birth, midwife care and natural philosophies as well as decline hepatitis B vaccination, ocular prophylaxis or all immunizations over one year following birth. The parents often cited misinformation, the use of preservatives in the injections and concerns regarding pain as their reasoning for forgoing vitamin K prophylaxis.
As a result of the risk of unnecessary neurologic disability and death among newborns, the investigators stressed the need for interventions addressing prophylaxis hesitancy, including prenatal counseling, targeted messaging and policy safeguards.
Read more: AAN 2026
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.