"Understanding the biological differences between men and women to vaccines could have led to better distribution of the 2010 H1N1 vaccine during the early months. Our review of the literature found that healthy women often generated a more robust protective immune response to vaccination when compared to men," said Andrew Pekosz, PhD, associate professor at the Bloomberg School's W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. "An understanding and appreciation of the effect of sex and pregnancy on immune responses might change the strategies used by public health officials to start efficient vaccination programs, optimizing the timing and dose of vaccines so that the maximum number of people are immunized." added Klein.

"The Xs and Y of Immune Responses to Viral Vaccines" was Sabra L. Klein, Anne Jedlicka and Andrew Pekosz.

Source: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health