A measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma has grown to 290 confirmed cases, including one death, with untested remedies reportedly distributed by Veritas Wellness, a holistic clinic. The remedies include cod liver oil, vitamin C, and steroids like budesonide, which are being promoted by Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an anti-vaccine advocacy group.
Dr. Ben Edwards of Veritas Wellness is providing these treatments to households with measles patients, allegedly with help from CHD’s online fundraiser, which has raised $16,000. The organization’s chief scientific officer, Brian Hooker, and director of programming, Polly Tommey, recently interviewed the parents of an unvaccinated six-year-old girl who died of measles.
The parents claimed that their other four children received treatments from Dr. Edwards after contracting measles and made a quick recovery. However, experts say there is no scientific evidence to support these remedies. Dr. Pedro Piedra, a pediatric infections disease specialist at Baylor University College of Medicine in Texas, notes that treating measles with steroids and antibiotics has not been proven effective.
The interview between Hooker and Tommey has sparked controversy, as it could be interpreted as promoting the use of unproven treatments over vaccination. CHD’s claims about vaccinated people coming down with measles have no scientific basis, and experts warn that this misinformation can put public health at risk.
Children’s Health Defense did not respond to a request for comment on their promotion of unproven remedies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection and that supportive care, such as vitamin A administration under a physician’s direction, may be appropriate.
The situation highlights the importance of relying on credible sources of information during public health emergencies and emphasizes the need for caution when considering unconventional treatments.
Source: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/rfk-jr-vaccine-measles-childrens-health-defense