Protecting infants from natural disasters: The case of vitamin A supplementation and a tornado in Bangladesh

Environmental disasters have increased in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Can timely intervention help protect against the health impacts these disasters? We study this question by leveraging data from double-blind cluster-randomized controlled trial at-birth vitamin A supplementation, which boosts immune system functioning, Bangladesh. During trial, large tornado swept through area, affecting both treatment control clusters. Tornado exposure infancy decreased physical growth incidence severe fevers. But infants who received supplementation were protected negative effects.