U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised concerns among health experts with his recent opinion piece focusing on vitamin A and nutrition as treatments for measles. This comes amid a significant outbreak in Texas, where at least 146 people have been infected, and one unvaccinated child has died—the first U.S. measles death in nearly a decade.
Kennedy’s piece, published in Fox News, highlighted the benefits of “good nutrition” and vitamin A but did not explicitly endorse the highly effective measles vaccine. Dr. Sue Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned that relying on vitamin A instead of vaccination is “dangerous and ineffective” and puts children at serious risk.
Measles is highly infectious and can be deadly, killing one to three people for every 1,000 infected. It also causes severe complications like encephalitis in one in 1,000 cases. The measles vaccine is 97% effective in preventing the disease.
The Texas outbreak is primarily affecting unvaccinated communities in the South Plains region. Kennedy’s response has been criticized for being muted and misleading. He initially stated that the outbreak was not unusual and incorrectly reported the number of fatalities. Later, he wrote that vaccination is a “personal choice” and emphasized vitamin A’s potential to reduce measles mortality.
While vitamin A can be beneficial as a supportive therapy for those already infected, especially in regions with nutritional deficiencies, experts warn against presenting it as an alternative to vaccination. Dr. Peter Hotez noted that this approach could create a “false equivalency” between vaccination and vitamin A supplementation.
Kennedy’s stance has also drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who expressed concern over his impact on U.S. vaccine policy. Warren described these as “dangerous times for public health,” citing the ongoing flu season and avian flu threats.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but declining vaccination rates have led to recent outbreaks. Kennedy’s past involvement with anti-vaccine groups has further raised alarms about his leadership in public health.
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