People who have a flu jab enjoy protection against suffering a stroke, according to a British researcher.
The risk of suffering a stroke is cut by 24% during the winter months – the flu season, according to GP Professor Niro Siriwardena.
Patients who had a flu vaccine early in the season benefited most, Professor Siriwardena, of Lincoln University, says.
The findings suggest that the flu virus may be a major trigger of stroke during the winter.
Reporting in the journal Vaccine, Professor Siriwardena and his fellow researchers tell how they analysed GP records of more than 47,000 patients who suffered a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack – a mini-stroke.
The professor said: "Further experimental studies would be needed to better understand the relationship between flu vaccination and stroke risk.
"However, these findings reinforce the value of the UK’s national flu vaccination programme with reduced risk of stroke appearing to be an added health benefit."
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and risk of stroke or transient ischaemic attack – matched case-control study Vaccine 28 January 2014 [abstract]
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