Fake about the “mutated Hong Kong flu” and the uselessness of vaccines

Information has spread on social networks and some Telegram channels that a mutated “Hong Kong” flu has allegedly entered Russia. “The strain has mutated greatly, so the old vaccine against it is useless,” the messages said. Data was also provided that “over the past week, 734 thousand cases were registered - 33.8 percent more than the week before.”

The authors of the fake took as a basis last year’s article with the participation of specialists from the Center. N.F. Gamaleya, in which it was written that the then circulating strain of the “Hong Kong” flu H3N2 had changed slightly. Because of this, the effectiveness of last year's vaccine against this particular strain has decreased. Even then, however, experts stressed that the flu vaccine still works. “Doctors and epidemiologists agree on one thing: even with a partial mismatch between the strain and the vaccine, vaccination remains an important factor in protection against severe disease, and personal preventive measures and early consultation with a doctor are critically important against the backdrop of the expected peak of incidence in January,” the article said.

The data that 734 thousand cases were registered over the past week was deliberately hidden and accordingly distorted, which is 33.8 percent more than the week before. The report from Rospotrebnadzor does contain such data, but it is emphasized that the structure of circulating viruses is dominated by non-influenza viruses - 99.4 percent, the share of rhinoviruses is 81.6 percent, parainfluenza - 12.5 percent, and influenza viruses account for only 0.6 percent. The department also recalled that vaccination remains the most reliable protection against severe disease and complications.

Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education, epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko also denied information about the uselessness of the flu shot. According to him, strains of “swine” and “Hong Kong” flu have been tracked in Russia for decades, so they will not come as a surprise. Also in the new epidemic season, the emergence of new strains of influenza is expected - “Hong Kong” and “swine” subtypes A (H3N2) and A (H1N1).

In addition, the composition of Russian vaccines has already been updated to accommodate these threats, as the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova previously reported. “This year, the vaccine included updated strains of influenza A (H1N1) of the 2009 pandemic, influenza A (H3N2) and B. It is a rare case when all three components change simultaneously, and this is exactly the case this year,” Popova emphasized. In addition, vaccines against all strains of influenza that can be identified in Russia are available in the required quantities, she concluded.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, therapist-immunologist Vladislav Zhemchugov confirmed that the first cases of infection with the mutated Hong Kong flu have already been recorded in Moscow and the region, and the virus is very contagious. In this regard, Rospotrebnadzor reminded that vaccination is the main method of protection. Therapist, head of the diagnostic department of City Clinical Hospital No. 15, Alena Fomina, noted that influenza leads to complications much more often than other common acute respiratory viral infections, and agreed that vaccination helps protect against it - in Moscow, vaccination can be done for free.

The distorted information was not disseminated in the Russian media.