Women more prone to severe side effects from flu jabs, study says

Women are twice as likely to suffer a severe reaction to the flu jab as compared to men, a new study has revealed. — AFP

Women may be at greater risk than men of injection site and systemic reactions to the seasonal flu jab, regardless of age or vaccine type, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Sex differences aren’t usually considered in vaccine programmes/policy, but transparent communication of these differences might increase trust in vaccines and curb vaccine hesitancy, suggest the researchers.