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Males and females differ in many ways... how they react to vaccines may be one of them. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. A recent review in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases called attention to ways that boys and men respond to vaccinations compared to girls and women. According to the researchers, women usually have a stronger immune response compared to men. This immune response is how vaccines help someone's body prepare to fight off future infections. In some cases, women can have the same immune response as men from a smaller dose of vaccine. For example, one study found that healthy adult women had a similar response to a half dose of influenza vaccine compared to a full dose in men.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes also affect women's immune responses to vaccines, the researchers write.
More insight into how the sexes respond to vaccinations could help health agencies distribute vaccines during a disease outbreak so the greatest number of people could be immunized, according to the review.
I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
