Women may experience more side effects, such as fever, headache, and arm pain, after receiving the flu vaccine compared to men. These reactions are more common in females due to their stronger immune responses.
A comprehensive analysis of 18 scientific studies involving over 34,000 participants revealed that among individuals aged 65 and older, women were 43% more likely than men to have issues in the injected arm, such as pain or swelling. Women in this age group also had a 27% higher chance of experiencing overall reactions, including fever, muscle pain, or headache.
Researchers analysed data on more than 34,000 people who took part in 18 scientific studies looking at reactions to flu jabs. Among people over 65, who are the largest group to receive the flu jab in the UK, women were 43 per cent more likely than men to have a problem in the arm they were injected, such as pain or swelling
Women under 65 also had a higher likelihood of experiencing side effects from the flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine is offered to select groups, including pregnant women and individuals with certain health conditions, every winter through the NHS.
Lead researcher Dr. Marilou Kiely from the University of Montreal stated, “We found that women were more likely than men to have reactions to the flu vaccine, regardless of age or the specific type of vaccine received.”
“However, the likelihood of experiencing these reactions decreases with age for both females and males.”
Dr. Kiely added, “Women should keep in mind that these vaccine reactions are typically mild and improve on their own. They should also consider the potential benefits of the flu vaccine, especially for vulnerable individuals such as older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions.”
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, highlighted arm pain as the most common issue after flu vaccination, while muscle aches and headaches were the most common overall reactions. Although the likelihood of these reactions in females compared to males is minimal, the researchers estimated that an additional 74 women out of every 1,000 vaccinated may experience them.
The study also suggested that women may be more prone to reactions that impact their daily lives. For instance, women over 65 were 51% more likely than men to experience a severe arm issue temporarily hindering their everyday activities. Furthermore, they were 48% more likely to have severe whole-body reactions, such as muscle aches and fever, making it more challenging to perform daily tasks.
However, the difference in severe whole-body reactions between women and men was smaller among those over 65 compared to the difference observed in younger age groups. This may indicate that older women have immune systems that respond less strongly to the flu vaccine compared to younger women. It is well-known that older adults generally exhibit weaker vaccine responses.
The analyzed studies, conducted between 2010 and 2018, examined reactions occurring within seven days of flu vaccination and found that women were more likely than men to report vaccine reactions regardless of the type of vaccine received (trivalent or quadrivalent).
The authors of the study noted that women are generally more inclined to report and seek help for health issues, which may contribute to the perception of higher risk of flu vaccine reactions compared to men.
It is important to mention that the quality of evidence in the analyzed studies was moderate at best, indicating a need for further research in this area.
According to NHS England, over 2.8 million people in England have already received their flu vaccines since the start of the autumn booster campaign on September 11.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
