Parents of newborn girls are more likely to refuse lifesaving vitamin K and hepatitis B vaccine shot, researchers find

A simple shot given shortly after birth can protect babies from a rare but potentially life-threatening condition known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB).

When newborns don't have enough vitamin K, their blood can't clot effectively, putting them at risk of severe internal bleeding in the intestines or the brain, which can cause organ damage or even prove fatal. ...