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Can vitamin A stop somebody from contracting measles?
No, say Houston-area well being specialists.
Native well being officers have been fast to dispel a rumor that’s been circulating amid a measles outbreak in West Texas, making it clear that no vitamin can change the extremely efficient measles vaccine.
“I simply wish to be abundantly clear that vitamin A shouldn’t be a alternative for vaccination,” mentioned Dr. Stacey Rose with the Baylor School of Medication. “I feel the rationale that vitamin A is a part of the dialog is as a result of vitamin A supplementation has been proven to cut back mortality or demise related to measles an infection, particularly in younger kids and in populations or areas the place kids are usually malnourished.”
Vitamin A, often known as retinol, helps the physique’s pure protection system towards diseases and an infection from illnesses like measles. But it surely doesn’t stop individuals from getting sick within the first place, mentioned UT Well being infectious illness epidemiologist Catherine Troisi.
“Average doses of vitamin A might be helpful in therapy, however the more sensible choice is to forestall measles from taking place within the first place by way of vaccination,” Troisi mentioned.
Whereas the outbreak in West Texas has grown to almost 200 circumstances and led to 2 deaths — one in West Texas and the opposite in japanese New Mexico — no lively circumstances have been reported within the Houston space. Two measles circumstances unrelated to the outbreak have been reported in Houston in January, marking the town’s first measles circumstances since 2018.
“The vaccine will stop the kid or the grownup from getting measles within the first place,” Troisi mentioned. “Whereas, if somebody is contaminated with measles, then vitamin A may help mitigate a number of the longer-term sequelae but it surely doesn’t stop measles in an unvaccinated particular person.”
Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% efficient in stopping measles, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, which says one dose is 93% efficient.
Harris County has a comparatively excessive measles vaccination price in comparison with the remainder of the nation, in response to County Choose Lina Hidalgo, who mentioned final week that round 94% of the county is vaccinated.
Vitamin A deficiency, Troisi mentioned, is unusual within the U.S.
“In america, we don’t see quite a lot of vitamin deficiencies,” Troisi mentioned. “Now, it’s definitely worthwhile to have it working at its peak immune system, however that doesn’t stop you from getting infectious illnesses.”
Having low vitamin A ranges is “hardly ever seen within the first world,” in response to the Nationwide Institute of Well being.
Houston-area residents can schedule appointments to get the measles vaccine with both Harris County Public Well being or the Houston Well being Division, that are holding vaccination clinics all through the area.
