Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review
Background: The rapid development and distribution of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has been essential in containing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic around the globe. For ongoing and future immunization campaigns globally, there is a need to evaluate the impact of population demographics such as age and sex, on va...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | New Microbes and New Infections |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003354 |
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| author | Michelle Bachmann Nejla Gültekin Zeno Stanga Jan S. Fehr Ismail I. Ülgür Patricia Schlagenhauf |
| author_facet | Michelle Bachmann Nejla Gültekin Zeno Stanga Jan S. Fehr Ismail I. Ülgür Patricia Schlagenhauf |
| author_sort | Michelle Bachmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The rapid development and distribution of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has been essential in containing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic around the globe. For ongoing and future immunization campaigns globally, there is a need to evaluate the impact of population demographics such as age and sex, on vaccine efficacy and safety. Methods: This systematic review (PROSPERO ID CRD42023328245) conducted according to PRISMA guidelines evaluates the impact of age and sex on the safety and efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations administrated in 15 studies that were chosen according to strict criteria. The ROBIS tool was applied to evaluate the robustness and the quality of the studies included in the review. Results: After screening, 15 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines typically elicit robust immune responses, and that younger people have higher antibody levels. Comparing the sexes reveals that higher immunological responses were induced in females, and mild to moderate adverse effects (such as injection site discomfort, exhaustion, and headaches) were also more frequently reported in women. Despite these variations, COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe to use across diverse populations, which supports their extensive use in public health initiatives. Conclusion: Our results suggests that tailored vaccination may achieve maximum effectiveness and better tolerability depending on age and sex. Currently study results are rarely stratified by age and sex and this is a deficit in clinical trial publications. More research is needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the variations in vaccine responses according to age and sex. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48078bd711234acd9ef5b1ea3c020d5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2052-2975 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Microbes and New Infections |
| spelling | doaj-art-48078bd711234acd9ef5b1ea3c020d5b2025-01-24T04:44:54ZengElsevierNew Microbes and New Infections2052-29752025-02-0163101551Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic reviewMichelle Bachmann0Nejla Gültekin1Zeno Stanga2Jan S. Fehr3Ismail I. Ülgür4Patricia Schlagenhauf5Department of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland; Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, Switzerland; Corresponding author. Department of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, SwitzerlandSwiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandSwiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandBackground: The rapid development and distribution of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has been essential in containing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic around the globe. For ongoing and future immunization campaigns globally, there is a need to evaluate the impact of population demographics such as age and sex, on vaccine efficacy and safety. Methods: This systematic review (PROSPERO ID CRD42023328245) conducted according to PRISMA guidelines evaluates the impact of age and sex on the safety and efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations administrated in 15 studies that were chosen according to strict criteria. The ROBIS tool was applied to evaluate the robustness and the quality of the studies included in the review. Results: After screening, 15 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines typically elicit robust immune responses, and that younger people have higher antibody levels. Comparing the sexes reveals that higher immunological responses were induced in females, and mild to moderate adverse effects (such as injection site discomfort, exhaustion, and headaches) were also more frequently reported in women. Despite these variations, COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe to use across diverse populations, which supports their extensive use in public health initiatives. Conclusion: Our results suggests that tailored vaccination may achieve maximum effectiveness and better tolerability depending on age and sex. Currently study results are rarely stratified by age and sex and this is a deficit in clinical trial publications. More research is needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the variations in vaccine responses according to age and sex.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003354 |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Bachmann Nejla Gültekin Zeno Stanga Jan S. Fehr Ismail I. Ülgür Patricia Schlagenhauf Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review New Microbes and New Infections |
| title | Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review |
| title_full | Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review |
| title_short | Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review |
| title_sort | disparities in response to mrna sars cov 2 vaccines according to sex and age a systematic review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297524003354 |
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