New York: a six-hour provider requirement
The New York State Department of Health states that the baby’s medical provider must give vitamin K within six hours of birth. This official statement supports the existence of the requirement. It does not, by itself, establish every consequence or procedure when a parent refuses. [1]
Maine: injection plus a refusal-form provision
Maine Title 22, section 1531 requires weight-based intramuscular vitamin K within six hours. The same section directs the department to provide a parental refusal form. Omitting that provision would give an incomplete picture of what the law says. [2]
Oregon: twenty-four hours and a specified objection
ORS 433.306 makes the attending licensed professional responsible for vitamin K within twenty-four hours by the most effective means. It describes a signed religious objection, while section 433.312 assigns dose and procedure details to rulemaking. The statute’s wording should not be casually rewritten as a route-specific rule without checking the implementing regulations. [3]
Do not assume an unlisted state has no requirement
This comparison confirms three examples; it does not establish absence of requirements in every other state. State rules, professional duties and facility policies may address different parts of newborn care. Check the current health-department guidance and birth-facility process for the actual location and date. [1][2][3]
Keep the medical recommendation separate
CDC recommends the newborn shot to prevent serious deficiency bleeding regardless of whether a family is comparing state laws. Imagine a family moves from Maine to another state: its prior refusal form does not settle the new location’s rules, and the change of address does not change the biological reason for prophylaxis. [4][2]
| State | Key distinction |
|---|---|
| New York | Official six-hour provider requirement |
| Maine | Six-hour IM requirement and refusal-form provision |
| Oregon | Twenty-four-hour statute with religious objection |
| Other states | Not audited here; verify current local sources |
Sources for this article
- Vitamin K Shot: Why does my newborn need it? - New York State Department of Health
Source consulted: 2026-09-21. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product. - Title 22, §1531: Care of infants after birth
Source consulted: 2026-09-21. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product. - Oregon Revised Statutes
Source consulted: 2026-09-21. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product. - Frequently Asked Questions About Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding | Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding | CDC
Source consulted: 2026-09-21. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.