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Men and women may respond to vaccines differently
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Men and women may have different innate, humoral and cell-mediated responses to viral vaccines, according to recent study findings.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reviewed literature on several vaccines, including yellow fever, influenza, measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis and herpes simplex, to determine differences in responses between men and women. A particular focus was placed on the humoral changes that occur during pregnancy.
Results of the analysis indicated that studies documenting gender-specific factors in vaccine efficacy or induced immune responses, particularly among pregnant women, are scarce. However, such data could be useful in developing more effective clinical guidelines, according to the researchers.
Greater antiviral, inflammatory and cellular immune responses may occur in women than in men. Although these responses are necessary for viral clearance, they may contribute to higher levels of disease symptom development and more frequent and severe adverse events in women than in men.
The researchers reported findings from a number of studies.
Data from the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System from 2000 to 2006 indicated that 61% of adverse effects of yellow fever vaccination occur in women.
Women may have rates of severe local and systemic reactions to influenza virus vaccines that are two or three times greater than in men.
A cross-sectional study of children older than 15 years who received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at age 12 to 15 months indicated that prevalence of serum antibodies against the three infections was substantially higher in girls than in boys.
Compared with men, women have higher antibody titres after vaccination against hepatitis A and B viruses.
Results of a phase-2 trial of a recombinant glycoprotein D-based herpes simplex virus type 2 vaccine indicated no overall efficacy; however, the vaccine was substantially more effective in type 1 and type 2 seronegative women than in men (74% vs. –10%).
Klein SL. Lancet. 2010;10:338-349.