AAP Says Vitamin Ought to Not be Used to Stop Measles

In 2025, there have been a minimum of three measles outbreaks within the U.S. The largest outbreak thus far is in Texas, with 198 instances, leading to 23 hospitalizations and one loss of life of a school-aged youngster, as of March 7, 2025. This youngster had not acquired the measles vaccine and had no underlying well being situations.

Sadly, amid these scary outbreaks, some misinformation about measles therapies and prevention has additionally been spreading—particularly, the concept vitamin A can be utilized to deal with and stop measles.

This has led the the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to lately launch on-line statements warning dad and mom to not depend on vitamin A for measles prevention, and that an excessive amount of vitamin A will be harmful for kids.

The AAP emphasizes, “measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination stays crucial software for stopping measles.” The AAP additionally underscores how extraordinarily contagious the measles is, noting the virus can stay within the air as many as two hours after somebody contaminated has left the neighborhood. As such, their focus is on the significance of vaccination as the first preventative software for measles.

Vaccines Are the Finest Method To Stop Measles

Therese Linnon, DO, a pediatrician at Akron Kids’s Hospital says whereas vitamin A can be utilized to assist with some signs of the measles as soon as a affected person has been recognized, it’s much better to stop the an infection within the first place by getting the measles vaccine.

“Vitamin A ought to not be a alternative for the vaccine. There isn’t any dose of vitamin A that can defend them from getting the measles virus,” she explains.

Mahvash Madni, MD, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the AAP agrees, referencing the tons of of measles-related youngster deaths within the U.S. yearly, previous to the existence of a vaccine.

“Vitamin and a powerful immune system are essential in serving to stop illness however sure viruses which are very highly effective can overwhelm the immune system no matter our greatest efforts,” she says. “Measles is one among these viruses. That’s the reason years of analysis and energy went into developing with a particularly secure and efficient vaccine which was implement many years in the past.

As per CDC tips, the present measles vaccine—the MMR vaccine—must be given in two doses. The primary dose must be given when a baby is 12-15 months, and the second dose must be given between 4 and 6 years. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 97% efficient in opposition to measles infections.

Can Vitamin A Be Used To Deal with Measles?

Initially, it’s essential to know that the measles isn’t only a virus that causes an annoying rash.

“Kids appear and feel very unwell,” explains Dr. Madni. “It may trigger pneumonia, neurological issues like encephalitis and loss of life.”

As Dr. Madni and the CDC word, for each 1,000 youngsters who get the measles, between one and three of them will die.

Furthermore, Dr. Madni emphasizes, there aren’t any therapies or “cures” for the measles. “It has to run its course like most viruses,” she says. So why do some individuals recommend supplementing with vitamin A?

As Zachary Hoy, MD, a board-certified pediatric infectious illness specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, TN notes, the CDC recommends that vitamin A be administered in extreme instances of the measles, particularly amongst youngsters who’re hospitalized. 

“Vitamin A shops within the physique have been seen to drop in measles instances, so supplementation with acceptable doses of vitamin A can assist be sure the immune system is optimized when a affected person is contaminated with measles,” says Dr. Hoy.

Low ranges of vitamin A throughout a measles an infection may cause eye harm, and may enhance the danger of great sickness, like pneumonia and even loss of life, Dr. Linnon explains. As such, generally docs will administer vitamin A to severely unwell youngsters to lower the possibilities of issues of the measles. 

Nevertheless, even in instances the place vitamin A administration could also be useful, it ought to solely be achieved below the strict supervision of a physician, who determines dosing and a secure and efficient dosing schedule.

Though the CDC recommends vitamin A supplementation in some extreme instances of measles, it’s not fully clear that it’s a useful suggestion for everybody.

“There may be sturdy proof for the usage of vitamin A in low resourced international locations with excessive charges of vitamin A deficiency in decreasing issues from measles, however no strong proof for its use in excessive revenue international locations,” Dr. Madni shares.

The Risks of Vitamin A Supplementation

The AAP notes of their warning, no guardian ought to attempt vitamin A supplementation for measles on their very own, as an excessive amount of vitamin A may cause important points for kids.

“Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which signifies that if you take an excessive amount of it sticks round in your fats cells and accumulates,” explains Molly O’Shea, MD, a pediatrician at Birmingham Pediatrics + Wellness Middle and residency teacher at Kids’s Hospital of Michigan. “In distinction, when you took an excessive amount of Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, you’d pee out any additional your physique would not want.”

Dr. O’Shea additional explains how vitamin A overdosing is particularly regarding if you take large doses over a brief time frame, as is beneficial in a case of measles–and it might probably rapidly construct up in your fats tissues.

“For all of those causes, consulting with a pediatrician and giving the complement below their care is essential,” she says.

In accordance with Rebecca Fisk, MD, pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, vitamin A taken in extreme portions can result in toxicity, inflicting the next signs:

• dizziness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• bone ache
• bone thinning
• pores and skin irritations/rashes
• liver harm