{
  "id": 531889,
  "title": "Vitamin K shots stop internal bleeding in newborns. So why are some parents refusing them?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/vitamin-k-shots-stop-internal-bleeding-in-newborns-so-why-are-some",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T04:18:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/vitamin-k-shots-stop-internal-bleeding-in-newborns-so-why-are-some-parents-refusing-them-288115"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting, and newborns typically receive an injection at birth to ensure they have sufficient levels. However, recent studies from the United States and Sweden have shown a growing number of newborns without a documented record of receiving this injection. While the reasons behind this trend remain unclear, two Australian states - Queensland and Tasmania - have reported declining rates of vitamin K injections since 2016, with more than 2,500 babies going without the shot in 2025 alone. Despite the rarity of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a life-threatening condition, its incidence has remained low in Australia, with around two or three cases reported each year. But when late bleeding occurs, it often happens inside the skull, posing a severe risk. In Australia, parents' declining rates of vitamin K injections have increased from 32% between 1993 and 2005 to 63% between 2006 and 2017. The reasons behind this decline are not well understood, but international research suggests factors such as perceived injection risks, a preference for natural approaches, mistrust of medical advice, and information found online or via social media may play a role.",
  "summary": "In the US and Sweden, there’s been a drop in the number of babies receiving the vitamin K injection. But Australia doesn’t collect national data.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}