Faculty mentor/PI email address
lipperinc1@rowan.edu streekswooden@rowan.edu
Keywords
Vitamin K, Vaccines, Pediatrics
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
Protocol Number: G25006
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background:
Intramuscular (IM) vitamin K is recommended at birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a potentially life-threatening condition that can result in intracranial hemorrhage or death. Prior research suggests a relationship between refusal of vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and subsequent vaccination patterns, with refusal potentially extending to other neonatal preventive services. In New Jersey, vaccination trends from 2017–2025 demonstrate a decline in the proportion of pre-kindergarten children meeting school vaccination requirements. This study aims to explore whether vitamin K administration at birth is associated with subsequent vaccination patterns in South Jersey.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a randomly selected sample of eligible Rowan Medicine pediatric patients born between 2017 and 2022. Inclusion required documented vitamin K administration. Patients without confirmed vitamin K documentation were excluded. A total of 388 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.
Results:
Of the 749 pediatric patients reviewed, 388 (51.8%) had documented vitamin K administration. Among these patients, only 71 (18.3%) had documented completion of all recommended vaccines during the first three years of life. Vaccine completion rates varied by vaccine type, ranging from 56% to 86%. Completion of multi-dose vaccine series demonstrated a progressive decline, as observed in the Hepatitis B series.
Conclusion:
Documentation of Vitamin K was inconsistent, likely reflecting challenges during care transitions, such as discharge from birth hospitals to outpatient pediatric practices and between pediatric providers.
Disciplines
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Medicine and Health Sciences | Population Health
Vitamin K and the Vaccine Cascade: Pediatric Patterns in Southern NJ
Background:
Intramuscular (IM) vitamin K is recommended at birth to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a potentially life-threatening condition that can result in intracranial hemorrhage or death. Prior research suggests a relationship between refusal of vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and subsequent vaccination patterns, with refusal potentially extending to other neonatal preventive services. In New Jersey, vaccination trends from 2017–2025 demonstrate a decline in the proportion of pre-kindergarten children meeting school vaccination requirements. This study aims to explore whether vitamin K administration at birth is associated with subsequent vaccination patterns in South Jersey.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a randomly selected sample of eligible Rowan Medicine pediatric patients born between 2017 and 2022. Inclusion required documented vitamin K administration. Patients without confirmed vitamin K documentation were excluded. A total of 388 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.
Results:
Of the 749 pediatric patients reviewed, 388 (51.8%) had documented vitamin K administration. Among these patients, only 71 (18.3%) had documented completion of all recommended vaccines during the first three years of life. Vaccine completion rates varied by vaccine type, ranging from 56% to 86%. Completion of multi-dose vaccine series demonstrated a progressive decline, as observed in the Hepatitis B series.
Conclusion:
Documentation of Vitamin K was inconsistent, likely reflecting challenges during care transitions, such as discharge from birth hospitals to outpatient pediatric practices and between pediatric providers.