Texas Measles Outbreak Raises Concerns Over Misinformation on Vitamin A

A measles outbreak in Texas continues to grow, with at least 159 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease. As health officials work to contain the outbreak, confusion surrounding statements from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked concern, particularly over his promotion of vitamin A and other therapies as potential treatments.

In an op-ed published earlier this week, Kennedy praised vitamin A for reducing measles-related risks and framed proper nutrition as a defense against infectious illnesses. He later suggested in a Fox News interview that Texas doctors had seen positive results using budesonide, clarithromycin, and cod liver oil—rich in vitamins A and D—to treat measles patients.

Public health experts are cautioning against such claims, pointing out that vitamin A does not prevent measles and at high doses can lead to toxicity. The most effective protection against measles remains vaccination, according to infectious disease physicians and organizations like the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO).

The Role of Vitamin A in Measles Care  

While vitamin A cannot prevent measles, healthcare providers sometimes administer it as supportive care for hospitalized patients with severe measles infections. This is especially common in low- to middle-income countries, where vitamin A deficiencies can compromise immune health and make infections more severe.

The WHO recommends giving two doses of vitamin A to children with measles in regions where vitamin A deficiency is prevalent. According to Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious disease physician and president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining immune health when someone has measles.

However, most Americans receive adequate vitamin A from foods such as dairy products, eggs, fish, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Severe measles infections may deplete vitamin A stores, but decisions about supplementation are made by healthcare teams on a case-by-case basis—typically for hospitalized patients.

Risks of Vitamin A Toxicity  

Excessive intake of vitamin A can have toxic effects, particularly for children. As a fat-soluble vitamin, it accumulates in the liver and can cause complications ranging from skin and bone damage to brain and liver failure. In extreme cases, vitamin A overdose can result in death.

The CDC recently issued dosing recommendations for healthcare providers administering vitamin A to measles patients but warned that inappropriate dosing could lead to hypervitaminosis A. Despite these risks, experts say vitamin A is not a preventative or treatment for measles.

"Vitamin A, at any dose, does not protect you from measles," said Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. "No one should take, and no parent should give to their child, vitamin A in hopes of preventing measles. It will not do that."

The Importance of Vaccination in Preventing Measles  

The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine remains the most effective tool against measles, preventing the infection in about 97% of cases when the full two-dose series is administered. Vaccination not only protects individuals but also contributes to herd immunity, safeguarding people who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical conditions.

Dr. Tan underscored the importance of community-wide vaccination in protecting vulnerable groups such as infants under six months of age and people with compromised immunity. "These individuals rely on everyone else to protect them. If they get measles, they’re at much higher risk of severe disease, hospitalization, or death," she said.

For unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles, the CDC recommends receiving a vaccine within 72 hours. Certain populations, such as pregnant people or those with weakened immune systems, can be given immunoglobulin within six days of exposure to mitigate the risk of severe illness. 

The standard vaccination schedule involves administering the first dose between 6 months and 1 year of age and the second between ages 4 and 6. In high-risk areas experiencing outbreaks, doses may be given earlier.

Misinformation Around Vaccine Safety  

Kennedy’s reluctance to directly urge vaccination has fueled concerns over misinformation. For decades, he has promoted the disproven belief that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism, a claim rejected by nearly all scientific studies and public health organizations. While Kennedy acknowledged this week that vaccines protect both individuals and communities, he did not explicitly encourage unvaccinated people to get immunized, claiming the CDC has failed at properly communicating vaccine risk.

Public health authorities emphasize that vaccination remains the best pathway to prevent measles outbreaks like the one affecting Texas and to protect the most vulnerable members of society.