VERDICT: FALSE - DANGEROUS MISINFORMATION
Claims that vitamin A, cod liver oil, and other "natural" treatments can replace measles vaccination are FALSE and dangerous. The Texas outbreak killed 2 unvaccinated children - the first US measles deaths since 2015 and the first child deaths since 2003. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. falsely minimized the outbreak, claiming hospitalizations were "mainly for quarantine" when children actually required oxygen, respiratory support, and IV fluids. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective with two doses and prevented this entirely preventable disease until vaccination rates declined.
The 2025 Texas measles outbreak represents the largest in Texas in 30 years, with 505 confirmed cases, 57 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths of unvaccinated children as of April 8, 2025. Both deceased children had no underlying health conditions.
Despite these tragic outcomes, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted unproven "alternative treatments" including vitamin A and cod liver oil, falsely claimed the outbreak was "not unusual," and incorrectly stated that hospitalizations were primarily for quarantine purposes. Medical experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), CDC, and independent physicians have condemned these claims as dangerous misinformation that could cost lives.
The Texas Outbreak: A Preventable Tragedy
Beginning in February 2025, a measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas rapidly spread through communities with low vaccination rates. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the outbreak grew to become the largest in the state since 1994. [7]
Key statistics as of April 8, 2025:
- 505 confirmed cases across multiple counties
- 57 hospitalizations (11.3% hospitalization rate)
- 2 deaths - both unvaccinated children
- 98% of cases were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status
The first death, announced March 27, 2025, was the first measles death in Texas since 1994 and the first US measles death since 2015. The second death followed days later. Both victims were school-age children with no underlying health conditions. [2]
| Claim | Verdict | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A can treat/cure measles | MISLEADING | May reduce severity; does NOT replace vaccination |
| Hospitalizations were "mainly for quarantine" | FALSE | Children needed oxygen, respiratory support, IV fluids |
| Only one child died | FALSE | 2 children died by April 2025 |
| This outbreak is "not unusual" | FALSE | Largest Texas outbreak in 30 years; first US measles deaths in 10 years |
| Natural immunity is better than vaccines | DANGEROUS | Getting measles risks death, brain damage, pneumonia |
Kennedy's False Claims Debunked
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made multiple false and misleading statements about measles during the Texas outbreak. [1]
Claim: "Hospitalizations mainly for quarantine"
What Kennedy said: "These are not people who went in there because they were - were - sick with measles. They were quarantined." [13]
The Facts: PolitiFact rated this claim FALSE. Local health officials and hospital staff confirmed patients were actively being treated for measles complications, not merely isolated. Dr. Eric Wilke of Seminole Hospital stated children required "oxygen, respiratory support, and IV fluids" for severe symptoms including pneumonia. [13]
Claim: "You give them vitamin A, you give them cod liver oil, you give them steroids, and you give them antibiotics if they get a secondary infection."
Reality: While the WHO recommends vitamin A supplementation for children with measles in areas with vitamin A deficiency, this is a supportive treatment - NOT a cure or replacement for vaccination. Dr. Adam Ratner of the AAP stated: "Measles is a preventable disease. Vitamins don't replace vaccination." [12]
Critical Context: Steroids and antibiotics do not treat measles - a virus. Antibiotics only address secondary bacterial infections that may occur as complications.
Claim: "Only one death"
What Kennedy said: Kennedy repeatedly referenced "one death" when discussing the outbreak in late March 2025.
The Facts: By April 8, 2025, two children had died from measles complications. Both were unvaccinated and had no underlying conditions. Kennedy's information was outdated and misleading about the severity of the outbreak. [3]
Medical Expert Rebuttals
Leading medical authorities have condemned Kennedy's statements as dangerous misinformation that undermines public health efforts.
Dr. Adam Ratner, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
"Measles is a preventable disease. The MMR vaccine has been one of the most successful public health interventions in history. Vitamins cannot and should not replace vaccination." [12]
Dr. James Campbell, University of Maryland:
"There is no evidence supporting alternative treatments as replacements for measles vaccination. Every child who dies from measles in the United States in 2025 represents a failure of public health messaging." [1]
Local Health Officials directly contradicted Kennedy's quarantine claims, confirming patients were receiving active medical treatment for measles complications. [8]
- 97% effective with two doses against measles
- 93% effective with one dose
- Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 due to vaccination
- Outbreaks now occur due to declining vaccination rates
- The vaccine has prevented an estimated 21 million deaths globally since 2000
Source: CDC [11]
Why Measles Is Not "Just a Childhood Disease"
Kennedy and vaccine skeptics often minimize measles as a routine childhood illness. The CDC data tells a different story. [10]
Measles complications include:
- Pneumonia - Leading cause of measles deaths in children
- Encephalitis (brain swelling) - Occurs in 1 in 1,000 cases, can cause permanent brain damage
- SSPE (Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) - Fatal brain disease that can develop years after infection
- Death - 1-2 per 1,000 infected children die
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, measles infected 3-4 million Americans annually, causing approximately 400-500 deaths, 48,000 hospitalizations, and 1,000 cases of encephalitis per year. [10]
Global Context: A Preventable Crisis
According to the World Health Organization, measles killed an estimated 136,000 people globally in 2022 - mostly children under 5 in countries with limited access to vaccination. [16]
The resurgence of measles in the United States - where the disease was eliminated in 2000 - is directly linked to declining vaccination rates driven by misinformation. The CDC notes that vaccination rates have dropped below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity in many communities. [10]
Misinformation from government officials carries extraordinary weight. When the HHS Secretary promotes unproven treatments and minimizes a deadly outbreak:
- Parents may delay or refuse vaccination for their children
- Community immunity continues to decline
- More children are exposed to preventable death and disability
- Healthcare workers must fight both disease and misinformation
The two Texas children who died had no underlying conditions. They died because they were not vaccinated against a disease that was eliminated in the US 25 years ago. [2]
Conclusion
Claims that "natural" treatments like vitamin A, cod liver oil, or steroids can replace measles vaccination are FALSE and dangerous. The Texas outbreak proves the deadly consequences of vaccine hesitancy.
Key findings:
- 2 children died - both unvaccinated, both previously healthy
- 98% of cases were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status
- Hospitalizations required active medical treatment, not just quarantine
- MMR vaccine is 97% effective and has saved millions of lives
The first US measles deaths in a decade occurred not because of inadequate vitamin supplementation, but because children were not vaccinated against a disease we had eliminated 25 years ago.
For accurate information on measles and vaccination, consult the CDC Measles website or speak with a licensed healthcare provider.