09/19/2025
Vitamin A, at any dose, does not protect against measles and no parent should give to their child vitamin A in hopes of preventing measles. Vitamin A is a micronutrient, meaning very small amounts are all we need to stay healthy and we get those through a healthy diet and in recommended doses of over-the-counter multivitamin supplements. Larger doses of vitamin A given over prolonged periods are very dangerous and can lead to vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, and, when more severe, liver damage and coma.
It is recommended, that under a doctor's supervision, kids infected with measles be given vitamin A once a day for two days to reduce the severity of the illness. But that is a small amount in a medical setting. The only way to prevent measles is to get your child vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. Talk to your pediatrician with questions.
For more information, visit: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/can-vitamin-a-prevent-or-cure-measles.aspx
All information provided by The American Academy of Pediatrics— www.healthychildren.org — https://fb.com/healthychildren
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