Many people have dismissed a male relative or colleague as dramatic when they catch a cold, often joking about man flu. However, a doctor has shared insights into why men occasionally suffer more severe reactions when seasonal illness strikes.

Dr Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, stated that man flu is typically a joke at the expense of men who make a fuss over a mild bug. The Cambridge Dictionary defines man flu as a non-serious illness treated as though it is severe.

While Dr Grant noted a lack of strong scientific proof that men suffer worse than women, he emphasized that it is not always an act. Men can feel rougher with the flu and face higher risks of complications as they age due to how their immune systems respond. Testosterone can weaken the body defenses, whereas oestrogen helps slow the spread of the virus.

Dr Grant explained that oestrogen limits how fast the flu virus multiplies in the nasal lining where infections begin. Because men possess fewer receptors for oestrogen, they do not receive the same level of protection.

A BMJ study previously observed that men with high testosterone levels showed a lower antibody response to the flu vaccine, which relates to illness severity.

Full list of Brits eligible for the free NHS flu jab

You are eligible for a free flu vaccine if you:

  • Are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by March 31, 2027)
  • Are aged 18 to 64 and have certain long-term health conditions
  • Are pregnant - you can have a flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy
  • Live in a care home
  • Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
  • Live with someone who has a weakened immune system
  • Are aged 16 or over and sleeping rough or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter

Two to three-year-olds, children up to the age of 17 and vulnerable kids with health conditions are given the flu vaccination nasal spray at school.

If your child is young or has not started school, you can contact your GP to book a free vaccination appointment.

To book your free vaccination appointment, simply book it through the NHS app, or select a walk-in appointment for Boots, Superdrug and other independent chemists.

Dr Grant pointed out that overall severity varies by person, influenced by age, fitness, underlying health conditions, and vaccination status. Colds develop gradually in the nose and throat, while the flu arrives suddenly with a high temperature, aches, and exhaustion. The NHS lists flu symptoms as a sudden high temperature, body aches, exhaustion, dry cough, sore throat, headache, and sleeping trouble.

The NHS began vaccinating pregnant women, toddlers, and school-age children on September 1, followed by over 65s and other eligible adults on October 1. Non-eligible individuals can purchase the jab at many pharmacies and private clinics. Analysis shows last winter's vaccination programme in England prevented around 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths.