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In the wake of a significant measles outbreak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. recently made headlines by endorsing vitamin A as a potential treatment. However, this has raised serious concerns, particularly in West Texas, where cases of vitamin A toxicity have been reported among hospitalized patients.
At Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, several patients, including some unvaccinated children, are experiencing liver damage attributed to excessive vitamin A intake. This alarming trend follows reports of over 320 measles cases across Texas in recent weeks, with 40 hospitalizations and one reported death attributed to the ongoing outbreak. Nationally, there have been 411 measles cases recorded in the U.S. in 2025, leading to two fatalities.
‘Flying off the shelves’
Following Kennedy’s interview on Fox News, where he praised the effectiveness of vitamin A-rich cod liver oil for treating measles, pharmacies in West Texas reported a surge in demand for these products. Tyler Schultz, the pharmacy manager at Drug Emporium in Lubbock, mentioned that the supplement has been “flying off the shelves.”
In light of recent developments, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, representing the food supplement industry, issued a statement cautioning against the inappropriate use of high-dose vitamin A, particularly among children. The organization emphasized that while vitamin A plays a vital role in immunity, there is no conclusive evidence supporting its preventative use against measles infection. Health experts vehemently recommend that any vitamin A treatment should be supervised by a healthcare provider.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases has reiterated that while vitamin A can be beneficial in severe cases of measles when administered correctly, excessive intake poses significant health risks.
Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity
Cleveland Clinic notes that acute vitamin A toxicity primarily occurs when an individual, often a child, consumes a dangerously high dose of the vitamin. Symptoms typically include headache, rash, irritability, nausea, and abdominal pain, which can lead to further health complications.
Kennedy has directed the CDC to revise its guidance on measles treatment to include vitamin A use. In a March 2 op-ed, he claimed that while no antiviral alternatives exist for measles, studies suggest vitamin A could significantly reduce mortality rates associated with the disease. However, the findings he cited highlighted the efficacy of vitamin A treatment only in conjunction with standard vaccination protocols.
Vaccines work against measles
Dr. Stacey Rose, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine, stressed that while vitamin A supplementation may reduce complications from measles, it cannot replace vaccinations. She explained that the low vaccination rates in some communities significantly hinder efforts to eradicate measles.
As health experts express concern about the resurgence of what is typically a preventable disease, the consensus remains strong: two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine offer over 97% effectiveness in preventing measles. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases emphasizes that understanding how to treat measles should not be necessary if vaccination is properly and widely implemented.
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