As a measles outbreak continues to spread across the United States, doctors are raising alarms over a new and unexpected health risk—children suffering from vitamin A toxicity. At Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, several unvaccinated children have shown signs of liver damage after consuming excessive amounts of the vitamin, according to Dr. Lara Johnson, the hospital’s chief medical officer.

The surge in vitamin A overdoses comes amid misleading claims about its effectiveness in preventing measles. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly promoted vitamin A as a potential preventive measure, a claim that medical experts strongly dispute.

“If people have the mistaken impression that you have an either-or choice between the MMR vaccine or vitamin A, you’re going to get a lot of kids unnecessarily infected with measles. That’s a problem, especially during an epidemic,” warned Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He also expressed concern over the unregulated use of high-dose vitamin A, which can lead to serious toxicities.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the only scientifically proven way to prevent measles, boasting a 97% effectiveness rate after two doses. While Kennedy has stated that he supports vaccines in principle, he has repeatedly framed vaccination as a personal choice, a stance that public health officials say undermines efforts to control outbreaks.

Vitamin A, when administered correctly by a healthcare professional, can aid measles patients by reducing complications. However, excessive intake can lead to severe health consequences, including dry skin, blurred vision, bone disorders, and liver damage. In pregnant women, high doses can even cause birth defects.

Dr. Lesley Motheral, a pediatrician in Lubbock, emphasized that most children in Texas are well-nourished and do not require additional vitamin A supplementation. “Recovery for patients with acute toxicity can be rapid when the vitamin is discontinued,” she said. “Sadly, some of the more serious problems with vitamin A toxicity are not always reversible.”

Concerns over improper vitamin A use have also prompted warnings from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a group representing supplement manufacturers. In a statement, CRN cautioned against giving children high doses of the vitamin, acknowledging its role in supporting immune function but stressing that there is no scientific evidence to suggest it prevents measles infection.

The rise in vitamin A misuse appears to be fueled by misinformation spreading on social media and within the wellness industry. Dr. Johnson noted that some parents are turning to advice from health influencers who downplay the importance of vaccines and promote unproven treatments. Dr. Hotez echoed these concerns, linking the trend to the same circles that previously pushed discredited treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

Kennedy has recently advocated for an alternative measles treatment plan that includes vitamin A, a steroid, an antibiotic, and cod liver oil. However, medical experts argue that there is little to no scientific basis for this approach.

Meanwhile, the measles outbreak continues to escalate, with at least 378 confirmed cases across 17 states, including Texas, New Mexico, Vermont, New York, and Washington. As cases rise, public health officials are urging parents to rely on evidence-based medicine and ensure their children receive the MMR vaccine—the most effective safeguard against the highly contagious virus.