Annual flu jab could reduce the risk of stroke, study finds

Getting an annual flu jab could reduce the chances of having a stroke by 12 per cent, according to a new study.

Researchers in Madrid studied a Spanish healthcare database looking at 14,322 over-40s who had a stroke, and 71,610 people of the same age who did not.

The team looked at ischemic strokes, the most common type, which are caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain.

Of this group, the team looked at whether people had received the flu vaccine at least 14 days before their stroke.

More than two in five (41.4 per cent) of those who had a stroke had a flu shot in the fortnight before, compared to 40.5 per cent who did not have the illness.

However, those who got the shot were often older and living with other conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol which would increase their chances of stroke.

Once the researchers adjusted for these factors, they discovered those who received a full shot were 12 per cent less likely to have a stroke than the rest.

Study author Dr Francisco de Abajo, of the University of Alcalá in Madrid, said more research was needed to determine whether the reduction was due to the protective effect of the vaccine itself or “other factors”.

“Studies have shown that getting the flu increases your risk of having a stroke, but research is still being collected on whether getting the flu vaccine can help protect against a stroke,” he said.

“This observational study suggests that those who have a flu shot have a lower risk of stroke,” he said.

The team looked at the pneumonia vaccine too but didn’t find any protective effects when it came to strokes.

Mr de Abajo added: “These results are yet another reason for people to get their yearly flu shot, especially if they are at an increased risk of stroke.

“To be able to reduce your risk of stroke by taking such a simple action is very compelling.”

However, they noted that because the study was observational it does not prove getting the flu shot reduces stroke risk – it only shows an association, and there could be other factors at play affecting stroke risk.

The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

In the UK, the flu vaccine is offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

While flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions.

Health experts say more people are likely to get the flu this year because fewer people have built up immunity to it due to the Covid pandemic.