Vaccine-hesitant parents are taking treatment into their own hands after claims from the US Health Secretary, experts fear

Summary

Texas hospitals are treating children with vitamin A poisoning linked to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s promotion of the supplement as a measles treatment.

At Covenant Children’s hospital in Lubbock, patients with measles showed abnormal liver function due to excessive vitamin A intake.

Kennedy, the U.S. health secretary, claimed vitamin A dramatically reduces measles mortality. Experts warn his messaging confuses parents and downplays the proven protection of the MMR vaccine.

The U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak in decades, with nearly 500 cases across 21 states and two confirmed deaths.

  • RobotToaster@mander.xyzEnglish
    335·
    2 days ago

    Parents overdose their kids on vitamin A, you can’t really blame RFK for them being stupid enough to give doses several orders of magnitude higher than the RDA.

    But then if they’re stupid enough to take health advice from RFK (or any politician, really), it’s a good example of correlation != Causation.

    • spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      221·
      2 days ago

      can’t really blame RFK for them being stupid enough to give doses several orders of magnitude higher than the RDA.

      Yes you can. If an idiot in power uses their power to convince stupid people to hurt their children, the person in power is still responsible.

      But then if they’re stupid enough to take health advice from RFK (or any politician, really),

      Yeah, what kind of fucking moron takes health advice from checks notes the secretary of health and human services?

      Granted, you’re right in that people shouldn’t be listening to this specific director because he’s dumber than a bag of hammers, but saying people shouldn’t be listening to people in HHS (in general circumstances, not in this age of crazy pills) is as dumb as them listening to rfk.

    • Nurse_Robot@lemmy.worldEnglish
      32·
      2 days ago

      Yes I can. His messaging directly caused this, and he’s in a position of power and influence over people’s healthcare decisions.

      • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        91·
        2 days ago

        The problem is these people don’t listen to health experts but for whatever reason they listened to this health expert. Clearly it’s not about his position of power but rather who they choose to listen to or not listen to.