Why Are Women At Greater Risk Of Covid Vaccine's Side-Effects As Compared To Men?

Covid-19 Vaccination: Women are at a higher risk of side-effects of Covid vaccine than men. This is because women produce stronger antibodies than their male counterparts.

Covid vaccination drive in India (File Photo)

New Delhi: Having side effects from any vaccine is a very common phenomenon. It does not put your health at any risk nor leaves a prolonged impact on the body. Infected with the corona virus, you may experience mild illness, while others may not show any symptoms at all. Your immune system and body are likely to show symptoms based on the response to the external pathogen which can be mild to severe. 

Women At Greater Risk Of Side Effects

A vaccine can trigger symptoms like that of Corona infection that may be similar to Covid symptoms. Given that Covid vaccines are copies of the original virus, it triggers immune responses that are activated by Corona infection and resemble immune responses.

From fever, fatigue, nausea to body pain, these are common side effects of the vaccine. In addition, many people may also experience itching, redness, swelling in the injected area, which gets cured in a day or two.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, research suggests that most reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine are not very serious, but women reported more side effects of the vaccine than men. Whenever someone gets a vaccine, the body's immune system becomes active, which produces antibodies to fight harmful pathogens. These in turn cause swollen responses to the body, causing side effects. 

Common Side Effects of Covid-19 Vaccine

Women are more likely to experience unexpected side effects of the vaccine such as itchy red rash. Red grainy texture is evident in the injected site, as about 95 percent of the reaction occurs with a Moderna vaccine. While the report suggests that women are at a higher risk of side effects of the vaccine, it may be because they have a stronger and healthier immune system compared to men. Research also claims that women produce stronger antibodies than their male counterparts.

Some experts believe that women are more likely to report side-effects than men due to their behavioral factor as women are considered more vocal about their diseases than men. According to experts, estrogen hormone present in women usually increases the reaction of immune system and also affects it. On the contrary, testosterone hormone in men suppresses the immune system, which can be the main reason for women to experience more side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.