Texas Pediatricians Push Vaccination Amid Measles Surge and Misinformation

West Texas's measles outbreak is still going strong, with 198 confirmed cases, 23 hospitalizations, and the sad death of a school-age child in Lubbock who had not been vaccinated. As doctors and health officials try to stop the disease from spreading, they also have to deal with a lot of false information, like promises that vitamin A can prevent measles.

Dr. Ana Montanez, a doctor in Lubbock, has talked to many parents who are unsure about vaccines because of false information spread by anti-vaccine groups. One mother told Montanez that she was giving her kids lots of vitamin A instead of vaccinating them, citing an article from Children's Health Defense. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used to lead this group before he became U.S. health secretary.

"Wait, what are you doing?" He remembered, "That was a red flag." "If I can't get you to get vaccinated, at least I can teach you about false information."

The American Academy of Pediatrics clarifies that vitamin A does not prevent measles but can make it less severe in kids who aren't getting enough food. A lot of it could even be bad for your health.

Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, in charge of infectious diseases at Children's Health in Dallas, was upset that people still didn't believe in vaccines. "It's crazy that we're still discussing vaccines and other treatments." "For sixty years, we've known how to keep people from getting measles," he said.

People keep spreading false information despite public health warnings. As health secretary, Kennedy has said that getting a vaccine is still a personal choice. However, health officials like the CDC stress that shots are the best way to avoid getting measles.

As officials in Texas step up their efforts to limit the virus, doctors like Montanez are still determined to fight false information and encourage parents to believe the scientific evidence that supports vaccines.

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