Research Reveals Women Are More Likely To Experience Pain To Headaches After Flu Vaccination

Influenza vaccination. (Wikimedia Commons/cat paint)

JAKARTA - A recent study conducted by experts found that women are more likely to experience reactions such as pain at the injection site after the flu vaccination than men.

According to a new study published in 'Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health', women are also said to be more likely to suffer from "systemic reactions" to flu vaccinations, including fever, headaches to myalgia or pain and muscle aches.

Researchers led by experts from the University of Montreal Canada said the body's response to vaccines and side effects may differ between men and women.

"But most studies did not report results based on gender," the researchers said, quoted by The National News on October 10.

Furthermore, the researchers analyzed data on more than 34,000 people who took part in the previous 18 studies. They were divided into two groups, namely those aged 18-64 years and groups 65 years and over.

The researchers found that there was a higher risk of backlash at the injection site in women than men in the two groups of people taking part.

Higher risk is also found for systemic reactions in women compared to men.

Researchers say, for every 1,000 flu injections, it is estimated that there will be an additional 115 cases of reaction at the injection site in women compared to men.

"And, there will be 74 cases of systemic reactions in women for every 1,000 vaccinations," they added.

"This transparent communication of risks could increase confidence in vaccines and limit doubts about vaccines," the researchers wrote.