Applying Lessons from Vaccination Hesitancy to Address Birth Dose Vitamin K Refusal: Where has the Trust Gone?

Abstract Refusal of intramuscular Vitamin K at birth is an emerging public health issue resulting in increased rates of intracranial bleeding. Parents who refuse this intervention bear epidemiologic resemblance to vaccine-refusing parents, are geographically clustered and share a mistrust of public health interventions. We review the prevalence of Vitamin K refusal and discuss individual and societal recommendations that may reduce Vitamin K refusal, adapted from vaccine hesitancy literature. We note the prevalence of misinformation on social media as a contributor to refusal and explore how changes in healthcare practices may influence growing physician mistrust. We propose solutions to the issue of refusal including state-based mandates and a pervasive social media strategy to combat misinformation as a contributor to Vitamin K refusal.