Two Democratic members of Congress have called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take immediate action to address what they describe as a "growing and preventable public health crisis" involving families refusing the vitamin K shot for their newborns. This refusal has been linked to cases of uncontrollable bleeding and fatalities among infants.
Rep. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, along with another lawmaker, wrote a letter last week urging the CDC to begin tracking vitamin K shot refusals, vitamin K deficiency bleeding, and related preventable deaths. Their letter followed a ProPublica investigation that revealed babies were dying after families declined the vitamin K shot—a critical and inexpensive injection given at birth to help blood clot—and that federal and state agencies were not monitoring this vital data.
The vitamin K shot has been a routine practice in the U.S. since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended it for all newborns in 1961. However, in recent years, some families have declined the shot amid rising mistrust of medical institutions and misinformation online. Alsobrooks noted that uptake has declined particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing "heavy-handed mandates and inconsistent messaging during the Biden administration" as factors contributing to decreased public trust in healthcare.
Alsobrooks also criticized individuals spreading misinformation, stating, "There are so many who are hanging on the word and advice of a person in his position," and called for that person's resignation. She emphasized the moral obligation to clearly communicate that the vitamin K shot is safe and effective, urging families to ensure their babies receive it.
According to the CDC, one in every five babies who experience vitamin K deficiency bleeding will die.
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