SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A trend is emerging with vaccinations in the United States close to 100 million: More women are reporting the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Of the nearly 100 million COVID-19 vaccines administered, 61% were women. Most of these women reported side effects. A recent CDC report found that, at the end of February, reports of side effects came more frequently among women.
Lisa Cillessen, clinical pharmacist at the Jordan Valley Health Center, said: “There are reports that women have a stronger immune response with vaccines, which leads to more side effects from vaccines.”
One theory for a stronger reaction in women is the difference in hormones, such as lower testosterone compared to men.
“Testosterone can be immunosuppressive. Men have more testosterone in their system, which can cause less immune response, ”said Cillessen.
Reactions to vaccines in women are nothing new. Research by the Center for Disease Control shows that women have more reactions to a variety of vaccines, such as flu, hepatitis B and measles vaccines.
The trend can also be behavioral. Women are more likely to report their vaccine after the effects.
“Women are usually more apt to report this type of thing. They are also more likely to go to the doctor’s office, ”said Cillessen.
Mercy Hospital is warning everyone to be prepared to see side effects after the first and second doses. The side effects of the vaccine vary from person to person.
Dr. Heather Dearing, an infectious disease doctor at Mercy Hospital, said: “Side effects are faced with any vaccine, not just the COVID vaccine, muscle aches and pains, joint pains and pains, fever, pain at the site.
Side effects start to appear 12 to 24 hours after the dose. Most of these side effects are mild and disappear within 36 hours.
Dr. Dearing says not to allow these side effects to stop you from getting the vaccine.
“I would be more concerned if I didn’t have any reaction. It would make me think that my body is not responding to the vaccine and therefore I am not covered in such a positive way, ”said Dr. Dearing.
If you experience any side effects from the vaccine, you should report them. You can report its side effects using the two reporting tools below.
Vaccine Adverse Event Notification System (VAERS) it is an existing national surveillance system for vaccines. VAERS accepts reports from healthcare providers, vaccine manufacturers and the public.
V-insurance is a security monitoring system established by the CDC specifically for the COVID-19 vaccine. After signing up, a text message will be sent with links to web searches. In the week following the vaccine, you must complete daily surveys asking about reactions. You will also be asked if any work was lost due to the vaccine or if you were unable to perform routine activities.
To report a correction or typo, send an email [email protected]
Copyright 2021 KY3. All rights reserved.