AAP Says Vitamin Should Not be Used to Prevent Measles

In 2025, there have been at least three measles outbreaks in the U.S. The biggest outbreak to date is in Texas, with 198 cases, resulting in 23 hospitalizations and one death of a school-aged child, as of March 7, 2025. This child had not received the measles vaccine and had no underlying health conditions.

Unfortunately, amid these scary outbreaks, some misinformation about measles treatments and prevention has also been spreading—specifically, the idea that vitamin A can be used to treat and prevent measles.

This has led the the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recently release online statements warning parents not to rely on vitamin A for measles prevention, and that too much vitamin A can be dangerous for children.

The AAP emphasizes, “measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles.” The AAP also underscores how extremely contagious the measles is, noting the virus can remain in the air as many as two hours after someone infected has left the vicinity. As such, their focus is on the importance of vaccination as the primary preventative tool for measles.

Vaccines Are the Best Way To Prevent Measles

Therese Linnon, DO, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital says while vitamin A can be used to help with some symptoms of the measles once a patient has been diagnosed, it is far better to prevent the infection in the first place by getting the measles vaccine.

“Vitamin A should not be a replacement for the vaccine. There is no dose of vitamin A that will protect them from getting the measles virus,” she explains.

Mahvash Madni, MD, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the AAP agrees, referencing the hundreds of measles-related child deaths in the U.S. every year, prior to the existence of a vaccine.

“Nutrition and a strong immune system are important in helping prevent disease but certain viruses that are very powerful can overwhelm the immune system regardless of our best efforts,” she says. “Measles is one of these viruses. That is why years of research and effort went into coming up with an extremely safe and effective vaccine which was put into effect decades ago.

As per CDC guidelines, the current measles vaccine—the MMR vaccine—should be given in two doses. The first dose should be given when a child is 12-15 months, and the second dose should be given between 4 and 6 years. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 97% effective against measles infections.

Can Vitamin A Be Used To Treat Measles?

First of all, it’s important to understand that the measles isn’t just a virus that causes an annoying rash.

“Children feel and look very ill,” explains Dr. Madni. “It can cause pneumonia, neurological problems like encephalitis and death.”

As Dr. Madni and the CDC note, for every 1,000 children who get the measles, between one and three of them will die.

Moreover, Dr. Madni emphasizes, there are no treatments or “cures” for the measles. “It has to run its course like most viruses,” she says. So why do some people suggest supplementing with vitamin A?

As Zachary Hoy, MD, a board-certified pediatric infectious disease specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, TN notes, the CDC recommends that vitamin A be administered in severe cases of the measles, especially among children who are hospitalized. 

“Vitamin A stores in the body have been seen to drop in measles cases, so supplementation with appropriate doses of vitamin A can help make sure the immune system is optimized when a patient is infected with measles,” says Dr. Hoy.

Low levels of vitamin A during a measles infection can cause eye damage, and can increase the risk of serious illness, like pneumonia and even death, Dr. Linnon explains. As such, sometimes doctors will administer vitamin A to severely ill children to decrease the chances of complications of the measles. 

However, even in cases where vitamin A administration may be helpful, it should only be done under the strict supervision of a doctor, who determines dosing and a safe and effective dosing schedule.

Although the CDC recommends vitamin A supplementation in some severe cases of measles, it’s not entirely clear that it is a helpful recommendation for everyone.

“There is strong evidence for the use of vitamin A in low resourced countries with high rates of vitamin A deficiency in reducing complications from measles, but no solid evidence for its use in high income countries,” Dr. Madni shares.

The Dangers of Vitamin A Supplementation

The AAP notes in their warning, no parent should try vitamin A supplementation for measles on their own, as too much vitamin A can cause significant issues for children.

“Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means that when you take too much it sticks around in your fat cells and accumulates,” explains Molly O’Shea, MD, a pediatrician at Birmingham Pediatrics + Wellness Center and residency instructor at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. “In contrast, if you took too much Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, you would pee out any extra your body doesn’t need.”

Dr. O’Shea further explains how vitamin A overdosing is especially concerning when you take big doses over a short period of time, as is recommended in a case of measles–and it can quickly build up in your fat tissues.

“For all of these reasons, consulting with a pediatrician and giving the supplement under their care is important,” she says.

According to Rebecca Fisk, MD, pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, vitamin A taken in excessive quantities can lead to toxicity, causing the following symptoms:

• dizziness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• bone pain
• bone thinning
• skin irritations/rashes
• liver damage