Study of 2 million newborns ties skipped vitamin K shot to higher bleeding risk

MedicalXpress | août 01, 2026

Newborns receive several routine immunizations shortly after birth. Prophylactic vitamin K is one such recommended shot. It activates several coagulation factors necessary for blood to clot properly, preventing vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a condition that can be life-threatening. As more parents refuse prophylactic vitamin K for their children, researchers in Sweden wanted to examine trends in newborn vitamin K shots over time and any associations with infant bleeding diagnoses.