Can COVID-19 vaccination reduce the risk of stroke occurrence?

In Canada, a stroke occurs every ten minutes, and it is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Respiratory infections, including COVID-19, have been linked with a higher risk of stroke. COVID-19 not only resulted in a significant number of deaths globally but also has been shown to have increased the likelihood of stroke with poorer recovery afterward. Vaccination against COVID-19 has been shown to reduce the severity of the infection, and it may also help lower stroke risk. However, very few studies have explored this link, and their findings have been inconsistent. We will look back at health records from Alberta's vaccine database, which includes about 4.5 million people. Our study will determine the risk of stroke, over a three-year follow-up period, between individuals that received the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those that did not. This will take into account people's age, biological sex, and whether they have high blood pressure. By addressing this gap in research, this study seeks to provide helpful insights for healthcare professionals, public health authorities, and the general public to make evidence-based decisions and apply helpful policies to reduce the impact of stroke.