Measles Outbreak: Vitamin A Not a Substitute for Vaccination

Texas health experts are warning that vitamin A — found in food and in supplements such as cod liver oil — is not an alternative to measles vaccination.

They’re urging Texans to vaccinate themselves and their children, as the West Texas measles outbreak continues to grow and after an unvaccinated child died from the illness.

Their concerns come after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote about vitamin A in a Fox News column responding to the Texas measles outbreak. (Kennedy has also falsely stated in the past that vaccines cause autism.)

Kennedy’s comments in the column — that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vitamin A for people hospitalized with measles, and that studies have found vitamin A can help prevent measles deaths — are not inaccurate.

But they lack important context, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine. Hotez worries the missing context might mean people put their faith in vitamin A over vaccination — a decision that could cost lives.

“The thing that I worry about is by [Kennedy] playing this up and others playing this up, it sends a false equivalency message, that somehow treating with vitamin A is equivalent to getting vaccinated, which is clearly not the case,” Hotez said.

The Role of Vitamin A in Measles Treatment

There is evidence that vitamin A can help support some people’s bodies as they fight off an existing measles infection, particularly for children who were already malnourished. But vitamin A is not actually a measles treatment in itself.

Plus, vitamin A can’t stop a person from catching measles.

“There’s zero evidence that it’s preventative,” said Dr. Christopher Dreiling, a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of Dallas.

Uses of Vitamin A

Studies have shown that vitamin A is helpful in treating measles among malnourished children who have existing vitamin A deficiencies, experts told The Dallas Morning News. This mostly applies to low-income countries.

In those cases, doses of vitamin A can lower the risk of death for children who already have the measles.

There is not significant evidence to indicate that vitamin A is helpful for kids in high-income countries, such as the United States, who are not malnourished, all three experts said. Less than 1% of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin A, according to a 2024 CDC report.

However, because there is little risk in giving vitamin A under proper medical supervision, the CDC recommends that vitamin A be administered to children who are hospitalized with the measles.

Risks of Vitamin A Intake

Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno — the medical director for Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s Medical Center Plano — emphasized that vitamin A is not a measles treatment, exactly, because there is no actual treatment for the illness.

“Measles doesn’t have any treatment. It’s essentially supportive care,” Carreno said.

Carreno warned that people should not start taking vitamin A on their own, because of the risks of taking an excessive amount.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means the body doesn’t flush out excessive amounts of the vitamin. Instead, it gets stored long term in fat tissue, which carries the risk of acute vitamin A toxicity, or hypervitaminosis A. Excessive vitamin A intake can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, blurry vision and other issues, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

‘It Does Not Replace the Vaccine’

Vitamin A is only recommended under medical supervision for people who already have the measles — and it does not prevent a person from catching the virus.

“It does not replace the vaccine,” said Dr. Philip Huang, the director of Dallas County Health and Human Services. “And what we want to make sure is that the message about the importance of vaccines is not diverted or diluted because of some misinformation.”

Measles is a highly contagious disease, and the virus can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left. It can spread rapidly among unvaccinated people and cause serious illness.

The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract measles will be hospitalized with the illness. The U.S. had not seen a measles death in a decade until a school-age child in Texas died last month, during the ongoing outbreak.

The Importance of Vaccination

The measles vaccine, however, is highly effective. The two-dose regimen offers long-lasting protection and is 97% effective at preventing measles.

Most people can get the vaccine, with the exception of people who are pregnant or severely immunocompromised. Unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles can also get vaccinated up to 72 hours after exposure.

Many local health agencies are offering measles vaccines at their regular clinics, and some are hosting measles-specific vaccination events. People can also contact their doctor or their pharmacy to ask about vaccination.

“It’s never too late to consider vaccination,” Carreno said. “That’s the best tool we have, and we need to act before we are in the midst of having numerous cases.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, while vitamin A may have some benefits in treating measles, it is not a substitute for vaccination. The measles vaccine is highly effective and offers long-lasting protection against the disease. It is essential to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of measles and protect oneself and others from this highly contagious disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can vitamin A prevent measles?

A: No, vitamin A cannot prevent measles. While it may have some benefits in treating measles, it is not a preventative measure.

Q: Is vitamin A a treatment for measles?

A: Vitamin A is not a treatment for measles, but it may be recommended under medical supervision for people who already have the measles to help support their body’s fight against the infection.

Q: Can I take vitamin A supplements to protect myself from measles?

A: No, it is not recommended to take vitamin A supplements without medical supervision. Excessive intake of vitamin A can cause serious health issues, including acute vitamin A toxicity or hypervitaminosis A.

Q: How effective is the measles vaccine?

A: The measles vaccine is highly effective, with a 97% success rate in preventing measles after two doses.

Q: Where can I get vaccinated against measles?

A: Many local health agencies offer measles vaccines at their regular clinics, and some host measles-specific vaccination events. You can also contact your doctor or pharmacy to ask about vaccination.