Flu vaccine rumors pure nonsense
The Hong Kong Medical Association on Thursday issued a statement debunking claims that flu vaccines are unsafe or useless. This was in response to public concern triggered by a Canto-pop singer’s voice message circulating on social media. The singer went so far as to declare “vaccines create super viruses” without citing any verifiable source. A mother of two children, Kay Tse On-kei sounded as if she knew a thing or two about how vaccines are made in a five-minute recording that went viral among parent chat groups and on social media. Many people are understandably scared by the prospect of being defenseless against the raging flu epidemic. So much so that they can easily overlook the fact that the singer is completely unqualified to make such claims, and did not provide a shred of academic or industry data to support her story.
The Medical Association noted that the effectiveness of flu vaccines currently available around the world is very well proven and they are still the best means of protection against flu infection even if they do not work on all flu-virus strains active today. That is why we strongly urge local residents to have flu shots soon. Parents are especially advised to ignore rumors and instead have their children vaccinated now if they haven’t done so. Anyone still not sure can look at the fact that flu vaccination rates among minors are much higher in Western countries such the United States, Canada and Britain than in Hong Kong. The low average inoculation rate among children in Hong Kong is no doubt one of the main reasons why so many schools and kindergartens have reported flu outbreaks this season.
Dr Yuen Kwok-yung, an internationally recognized microbiologist, also dismissed Tse’s remarks as “completely wrong” and contrary to scientific facts. He said scientists from all over the world convene every year to decide which flu vaccines should be manufactured. Noting that the vaccines’ effectiveness this year is about 50 to 55 percent, he said the vaccines do not contain any substance hazardous to humans. The Department of Health also issued a statement on Thursday to clarify that the vaccines do not contain any active viruses, and receiving a flu shot will not result in a flu infection or a virus mutation.
All said, the public should listen to doctors and relevant authorities on matters concerning infectious-disease prevention, not unsupported hearsay found on social media. As for having flu shots to prevent infection, everyone who has not had one should do so now.