SPRINGFIELD, Mo (KY3) – A trend is emerging as vaccines in the United States reach close to 100 million: more women are reporting after 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 by the end of February, side effects reports were reaching a higher rate than women.
Lisa Cillessen, clinical pharmacist at Jordan Valley Health Center, said, “There are reports that females have a stronger immune response to vaccines that causes 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 the system, so they can provoke a lower immune response, ”said Cillessen.
Reactions to vaccines in women are nothing new. Research from the Centers for Disease Control shows that women have more reactions to various vaccines, such as flu shots, hepatitis B and measles.
The trend can also be behavioral. Women are more likely to report their vaccine after the effects.
“Women are often better able to report this kind of thing. They are also more likely to go to the doctor’s office, ”said Cillessen.
Mercy Hospital warns everyone to be prepared to see side effects after the first and second dose. The side effects of vaccines 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, aches and pains, fever, pain at the site. “.
Side effects begin to appear between 12 and 24 hours after the dose. Most of these side effects are mild and clear up in 36 hours.
Dr. Dearing says don’t let these side effects deter you from the vaccine.
“I would worry more if I had no reaction. This would make me think that my body does not respond to this vaccine and then I am not so positively covered, ”said Dr. Dearing.
If you experience any side effects from the vaccine, you are asked to report it. You can report your side effects using the following two reporting tools.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is an existing national surveillance system for vaccines. VAERS accepts reports from health care providers, vaccine manufacturers, and the public.
V-sure is a safety control system established by CDC specifically for the COVID-19 vaccine. After registration, a text message with links to web surveys will be sent. The week after the vaccine, you will be asked to complete daily reaction surveys. You will also be asked if you lost any work due to the vaccine or if you were unable to perform routine activities.
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