COVID-19 vaccination, do women suffer from more side effects than men? A retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

The vaccine was the only way to fight against Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) from its statement as a pandemic till day. COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the world health organization (WHO) in December 2020. Despite a large number of studies regarding the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, to our knowledge, there were limited studies that outlined the gender disparity towards COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects. This study aims to outline the variety of side effects among men and women after getting COVID-19 vaccines (either single or two doses). It is a cross-sectional study accomplished electronically from September to November 2021. The participants involved were 843 Health Care Workers (HCWs) from different cities in Iraq. The majority of respondents were females (664). Around 65% of males experienced adverse effects compared to 77% of females. A high frequency of severe pain was reported among females. Regarding dermatological reactions like swelling, redness and skin rash were also higher reported among female subjects. In addition to that, higher frequencies of moderate and severe systemic adverse effects and mild to moderate nausea was also reported more frequently among females. In terms of cardiopulmonary adverse effects, all the reported adverse effects were found more frequently among females. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccines produced limited adverse effects and the majority of them were reported among women. This may be associated with hormonal and psychological factors related to them.

The role of blood groups, vaccine type and gender in predicting the severity of side effects among university students receiving COVID-19 vaccines

“…The study results suggested that both females and males experienced side effects that mostly started within 8 hours after vaccination, lasted between one and three days, and were mainly limited to pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, and fever, while serious side effects were rare. These results are consistent with what has been reported in the literature [ 27 , 28 ]. In this study, we also found that both females and males reported side effects to the vaccine over the three doses, but females showed more side effects that were between moderate and severe than their male counterparts.…”

Adverse Effects of Covid-19 Vaccine; an Observational Studymainly Focusing on the Cutaneous Reactions in Both Genders

“…The participants reported swelling, redness, and rashes, and females were found to be more affected than females. In this study, 77% of females and 65%males experienced side effects (18) likewise, our study females experienced more side effects than males.…”

Follow-Up of Side Effects throughout the Entire Course of Coronavirus Vaccination

“…There are many studies that demonstrate the variety of vaccine side effects based on gender [ 40 ]. The present study shows that females experienced more side effects compared with males [ 40 , 41 ], and the variation between males and females is attributed to sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which can bind to the surface of immune cells and influence how they work. Exposure to estrogen causes immune cells to produce more antibodies in response to the vaccine in general [ 42 ].…”