Risk of stroke within 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after influenza vaccination in Alberta, Canada: A population-based study

Background and purpose: Influenza vaccination is associated with a longer-term protective effect against stroke; however, it has a short-term inflammatory response which may increase short-term risk of stroke. The aim was to investigate the association between influenza vaccination and short-term risk of stroke in adults.

Methods: Administrative data were obtained from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan for all adults in Alberta, Canada, from September 2009 to December 2018. The hazard of any stroke (acute ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage and transient ischaemic attack) within 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days of influenza vaccination compared to unexposed time was analysed using Andersen-Gill Cox models, with adjustment for age, sex, anticoagulant use, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, income quintile, and rural or urban home location.

Results: In the entire cohort consisting of 4,141,209 adults (29,687,899 person-years), 1,769,565 (42.7%) individuals received at least one vaccination. In total 38,126 stroke events were recorded with 1309 occurring within 30 days of a vaccination event. Influenza vaccination was associated with a significantly reduced hazard of stroke within 3 days (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-0.93), 7 days (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.95), 14 days (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.93), 21 days (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.91) and 30 days (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.65-0.68).

Conclusions: An increased early risk associated with vaccination was not observed. The risk of stroke was reduced at all time points within 30 days after influenza vaccination.