SPRINGFIELD, Mo (KY3) – A trend is approaching as vaccinations in the United States approach 100 million: more women are reporting the effects of COVID-19.
Of the nearly 100 million COVID-19 vaccines given, 61% were women. Most of these women reported side effects. A recent CDC report found that since the end of February, reports of side effects have had a higher rate from women.
Lisa Cillessen, a clinical pharmacist at the Jordan Valley Health Center, said: “There are reports that women have a stronger immune response to vaccines, leading 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 may be immunosuppressive. Men have more testosterone in their system, so it could cause a lower immune response, ”Cillessen said.
Vaccine reactions in women are nothing new. Research by the Centers for Disease Control shows that women have more reactions to a variety of vaccines, such as flu vaccines, hepatitis B and measles.
The tendency can also be behavioral. Women are more likely to report their vaccine after effects.
“Women are often better suited to report such things. They also have a better chance of going to the doctor’s office, “said Cillessen.
Mercy Hospital warns everyone to be prepared to see side effects after the first and second dose. Vaccine side effects vary from person to person.
Dr. Heather Dearing, an infectious disease physician at Mercy Hospital, said: “The side effects are any vaccine, not just the COVID vaccine, muscle aches and pains, joint pain, fever, local pain.”
Side effects begin to appear 12 to 24 hours after the dose. Most of these side effects are mild and clear up within 36 hours.
Dr. Dearing says do not let these side effects discourage you from getting the vaccine.
“I would be more worried if I didn’t react at all. That would make me believe that my body does not respond to that vaccine and then I am not as positively covered, “said Dr. Dearing.
If you have side effects from the vaccine, you are asked to report them. You can report side effects using the two reporting tools below.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is an existing national surveillance system for vaccines. VAERS accepts reports from healthcare providers, vaccine manufacturers, and the public.
V-safe is a safety monitoring system established by the CDC specifically for the COVID-19 vaccine. After signing up, you will be sent a text message that provides links to web surveys. In the week following the vaccine, you will be asked to complete daily surveys asking about reactions. You will also be asked if you missed any work due to the vaccine or if you were unable to perform routine activities.
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