(P12-025-23) Severity of Side Effects From SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Doses Differ by Level of Stress, Daily Physical Activity, and Use of Hormone-Based Therapies

Objectives: Nutritional status and physical activity have been implicated in risk of severe COVID-19 illness; however, the role of lifestyle factors in determining an individual’s response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is less well characterized. Thus, we evaluated whether side effects following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine doses differed by sex or lifestyle factors, as strategies to mitigate side effects may reduce the barriers to vaccine acceptance.

Methods: A survey was administered via Qualtrics to collect information on respondents’ demographics, dietary patterns, physical activity, medication and supplement use, COVID-19 illness, and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine side effects. Inclusion criteria included age of 18 years or older, and willingness to participate in the survey. The survey was conducted from May-September 2021.

Results: A total of 83 participants (61.3% female, 38.7% male) completed the survey. Females reported a greater level of subjective stress and engaged in less physical activity compared to males. While severity of COVID-19 illness and vaccine side effects did not differ by sex, respondents reporting higher stress levels experienced a greater severity of side effects of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine 1^st and 2^nd dose compared to respondents with lower stress levels, in addition to trends toward a longer duration of side effects. Respondents who reported exercising for less than 30 minutes per day reported having a greater severity of vaccine side effects after the first dose, but a trend toward less severe side effects after the second dose compared to respondents who reported exercising for more than 30 minutes daily. While there were no differences in dietary patterns or supplement use between individuals reporting mild vs. more severe side effects, individuals reporting a greater severity of side effects trended toward having a higher BMI, on average. Further, a greater percentage respondents taking combined oral contraceptives (66.7%) reported experiencing side effects from the first vaccine dose compared to respondents not taking other hormone therapies (29.6%) or using progestin-based intrauterine devices (20.0%).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that side effects to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines differ by level of stress, daily physical activity, and use of hormone-based therapies.

Funding Sources: This study received no external funding.