COVID Flu Vaccines and Stroke Risk: A recent study has suggested a potential slight increase in the risk of stroke in older adults who receive both Covid-19 and flu vaccines, especially among those aged 85 and older. The study, conducted by experts at the US Food and Drug Administration, examined Medicare claims data and found a safety signal indicating a small and uncertain risk of stroke associated with the simultaneous administration of certain Covid-19 and flu vaccines.
The research revealed that the elevated risk of stroke was primarily linked to the use of high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines, designed to enhance the immune system’s response. Despite the findings, the absolute risk of experiencing a stroke after vaccination was deemed to be minuscule, with approximately 3 strokes or transient ischemic attacks detected per 100,000 doses administered.
Other recent studies investigating the potential association between Covid-19, influenza vaccinations, and strokes have not found any significant additional risk. Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, director of the Immunization Safety Office at the CDC, emphasized that the available data do not provide consistent evidence of a safety problem for ischemic stroke with bivalent mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, whether administered alone or alongside influenza vaccines.
Experts highlighted the importance of prioritizing vaccination despite the small signals identified in the study, emphasizing that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks. They suggested that individuals concerned about potential interactions could consider getting each vaccine at different times rather than simultaneously.
While the study was observational and can only demonstrate associations rather than causation, the findings underscore the need for further investigation. A separate analysis by the FDA involving over 4 million records from commercial insurance databases indicated a small and tentative link between seizures in children aged 2 to 5 and Covid-19 vaccination. However, the link appeared to be associated with common vaccination-related fevers, and the researchers stressed the need for more comprehensive epidemiological research to validate the findings.
COVID Flu Vaccines and Stroke Risk As the flu and respiratory virus season approaches, health experts underline the importance of immunization, emphasizing its role in protecting against potentially catastrophic outcomes related to influenza and COVID-19 infections. Source thedailycourierng news