A review of vaccine effects on women in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The pandemic situation triggered by the spread of COVID-19 has caused great harm worldwide. More than six million people have been infected, and more than 360,000 of them have died. This is the worst catastrophe suffered by mankind in recent history. In the face of this severe disaster, people all over the world are frightened of the prospect of facing an outbreak or an annual recurrence. However, the development of a vaccine will help control the impact of COVID-19. Women in particular have been more seriously affected by the pandemic. Since the pressure and physical load they suffer are often greater than what men endure, women are more threatened by COVID-19. Though women have a poorer quality of life and work and face worse economic conditions, they also tend to have better physiological immunity than men, which can ease the effect of COVID-19. The early development of a vaccine against COVID-19 is an important issue that must take into consideration women’s better immune response to the virus along with the technique of hormone regulation. Relevant research has been conducted on female-specific vaccines in the past, and women’s issues were considered during those clinical trials to ensure that complications and antibody responses were positive and effective in women. National policies should also propose good strategies for women to be vaccinated. This could improve consciousness, give women a better vaccination experience, enhance their willingness to vaccinate, and protect them from COVID-19 infection.

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in 45,965 adults from the general population of the United Kingdom

“…Sex differences in antibody levels have also been described following natural infection 18 . These findings are consistent with observations that females generate stronger humoral immunity and greater vaccine efficacy than males 19 , 20 . However, a UK study of 3,610 healthcare workers (median age of 41 years) did not find any association between sex and single-dose ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 antibody responses 6 , which is possibly explained by our finding that sex differences in antibody responses become more marked above 60 years of age.…”

Sex Disparities in Efficacy in COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…However, the novelty of the subject and the compelling need to obtain more detailed information on the COVID-19 vaccines and all the factors potentially affecting their outcome should deserve attention. In addition, such observations are not consistent with previous anecdotical reports of other vaccines (for instance measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis, yellow fever) that have been shown to be more effective in women than in men [3,19].…”

Sex-Related Differences in Drugs with Anti-Inflammatory Properties

“…Studies found lower T-cell frequencies and activation in men [ 31 , 32 ], downregulation of B-cell activity and NK cell activating receptors in men [ 32 ], as well as a predominance of men among patients with neutralizing IgG autoantibodies against IFN-ω and/or IFN-α, enabling easier SARS-CoV-2 infections [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Sex differences in immune responses have been shown to cause differences in vaccine effectiveness [ 35 , 36 ]. Interestingly, analyses for sex differences are mostly lacking or of a rudimentary level in reports of trials investigating antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, and–importantly–vaccines [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

“…Sex differences in immune responses have been shown to cause differences in vaccine effectiveness [ 35 , 36 ]. Interestingly, analyses for sex differences are mostly lacking or of a rudimentary level in reports of trials investigating antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, and–importantly–vaccines [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”