Overview

• A study of over 1.2 million South Korean adults aged 50+ found that the live shingles vaccine lowers cardiovascular event risks by 23% and major event risks by 26%.
• The vaccine's protective effects are strongest two to three years after immunization but persist for up to eight years.
• Men, individuals under 60, and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking or inactivity, experienced the most pronounced benefits.
• The live vaccine studied, Zostavax, has been largely replaced in many countries by the recombinant Shingrix vaccine, which researchers plan to evaluate for similar effects.
• Shingles vaccination may reduce vascular inflammation and clot risks, highlighting its potential as a broader public health tool beyond preventing shingles.