A recent study has found that flu vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of stroke among adults. Regardless of age, sex, or pre-existing medical conditions, stroke risk was 23% less in the six months following a flu shot.
According to stroke epidemiologist Jessalyn Holodinsky, PHD, “There is an established link between upper respiratory infection and both heart attack and stroke. This has been very salient in the past few years throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The research team on this study looked for acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and transient ischemic attack, and the reduction of risk applied to all stroke types.
The public message from this study is to advocate getting the seasonal flu shot. Not only can it help prevent severe influenza, the benefits of vaccination can be seen in other areas as well, such as reduced stroke risk. This has also opened the conversation to begin studying other ways flu vaccination can benefit us, such as another recent study that shows a 34% lower risk of cardiovascular events after receiving the flu shot.
Sources:
Crist, Carolyn. “Flu Vaccination Associated with Reduced Stroke Risk.” Medscape, https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/983953.
