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Gender differences in local and systemic reactions to inactivated influenza vaccine, established by a meta-analysis of fourteen independent studies

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Abstract

In order to determine whether there is a difference between genders in reported adverse reactions to inactivated influenza vaccine, a computerized database of serological studies was investigated. A standardized questionnaire was used to evaluate vaccine reactogenicity. A total of 1,800 vaccinees in 14 studies were analyzed separately for two age groups (<60 and ≥60 years of age). Females reported significantly more local reactions than males. The pooled odds ratio for the outcome measure “any local reaction” was 0.32 (95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.40, significant) and 0.54 (95% Cl, 0.41–0.70, significant) for young and elderly adults, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the outcome measure “any systemic reaction.” Previous exposure to influenza or influenza vaccine had no influence on reactogenicity. There were no gender differences in seroresponses. In conclusion, gender should be regarded as a predictor of reported reactions to influenza vaccine in both young and elderly adults and should be addressed in future study designs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WHO National Influenza Centre, Department of Virology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000, DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    W. E. P. Beyer, A. M. Palache & N. Masurel

  2. Department of Statistics and Data Management, Solvay Duphar bv, PO Box 900, 1380, DA Weesp, The Netherlands

    R. Kerstens

Authors
  1. W. E. P. Beyer
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  2. A. M. Palache
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  3. R. Kerstens
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  4. N. Masurel
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Beyer, W.E.P., Palache, A.M., Kerstens, R. et al. Gender differences in local and systemic reactions to inactivated influenza vaccine, established by a meta-analysis of fourteen independent studies. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15, 65–70 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01586187

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