• Recipients of the shingles vaccine showed a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure, over an 8-year period.
• The study, based on data from over 1.2 million people aged 50 and older in South Korea, identified stronger protection among men and younger individuals.
• Researchers suggest the vaccine's protection against cardiovascular events may be linked to preventing blood vessel damage, inflammation, and clot formation associated with shingles.

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal indicates a significant association between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. The study, which analyzed data from over 1.2 million individuals aged 50 and above in South Korea between 2012 and 2021, found that those who received the live zoster vaccine experienced a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. The protective effect was more pronounced in men and younger individuals. Researchers propose that preventing shingles through vaccination may mitigate blood vessel damage, inflammation, and clot formation, thus lowering cardiovascular risks.

• What: A study indicates that the shingles vaccine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
• Who: The study involved 1,271,922 people aged 50 or older in South Korea who received the shingles vaccine between 2012 and 2021. Key researchers include Dong Keon Yon and Sooji Lee.
• When: The study analyzed data from 2012 to 2021, with an average patient follow-up of 6 years. The protective effect was strongest 2 to 3 years following vaccination but extended into year 8.
• Where: The study was conducted in South Korea using data from national health registries.

The study's findings suggest a potential benefit of shingles vaccination beyond preventing the viral infection itself. The observed reduction in cardiovascular events indicates a possible link between shingles prevention and improved heart health. Researchers hypothesize that the vaccine's protective effect is due to preventing shingles-related inflammation and blood vessel damage. However, the study focused on the live zoster vaccine, and further research is needed to determine if the newer recombinant vaccine, Shingrix, offers similar cardiovascular protection. While observational studies cannot establish a direct causal relationship, the large sample size and consistent findings across multiple sources strengthen the evidence supporting a potential cardiovascular benefit of the shingles vaccine.

A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease. By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks.

We are seeing even better vaccine effectiveness, and we're seeing preliminary data showing that it, too, has cardiovascular protective effects.

Zoster itself has high morbidity from pain and post-herpetic neuralgia – a painful condition that can last years after shingles eruption. But health systems around the world could find enormous healthcare savings through reduction of cardiovascular morbidity by investing in the relatively inexpensive zoster vaccine.

The study provides compelling evidence of a potential association between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. The findings suggest that vaccination may offer additional health benefits beyond shingles prevention, particularly in men and younger individuals. Further research is warranted to investigate the cardiovascular effects of the newer recombinant vaccine and to establish a direct causal relationship. Public health strategies may benefit from considering the potential cardiovascular benefits of shingles vaccination, especially for at-risk populations.