The measles virus has re-emerged in the United States, causing concern among parents who want to protect their children from the disease. However, experts caution that relying solely on vitamin A supplements is not a viable alternative to vaccination.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but its eradication meant there were no ongoing local spread of the disease. Unfortunately, with vaccination rates dipping, measles outbreaks are now spreading across the country. The illness can be deadly, with a fatality rate of around 1 in 1,000.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect against measles. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is one of the safest medical interventions available, providing excellent protection against the disease. However, some people claim that vitamin A supplements can also prevent measles, citing studies from the 1980s and 1990s.
But these claims are based on flawed assumptions. The studies were conducted in areas with widespread malnutrition, where vitamin A deficiency was common. In contrast, the US has a relatively low incidence of vitamin A deficiency, making supplements unnecessary. Moreover, even in areas where supplements did show benefits, they only worked when combined with proper nutrition and healthcare.
In reality, relying solely on vitamin A supplements is not enough to protect against measles. The evidence from large-scale studies, including one in northern India with over 1 million children, suggests that supplements do not significantly reduce the risk of death or diagnosis from measles.
The most effective way to protect against measles is still vaccination. Getting vaccinated and providing proper nutrition are not mutually exclusive – in fact, they complement each other. The US eliminated measles for 25 years; there’s no need to bring it back by relying on supplements instead of vaccines.
Source: https://slate.com/technology/2025/03/measles-rfk-jr-vitamin-a-research-vaccination-nutrition-debunk.html