Overview
- A new South Korean study of over 1.2 million adults aged 50 and older found that shingles vaccination reduces cardiovascular event risk by 23%, with protection lasting up to eight years.
- The vaccine was associated with a 26% lower risk of heart failure and a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease, with the strongest effects observed in the first two to three years post-vaccination.
- Researchers suggest the vaccine’s anti-inflammatory effects prevent vascular damage caused by shingles, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.
- The study used the older live zoster vaccine, while the recombinant Shingrix vaccine, now widely used in many countries, may offer even greater benefits and is a focus for future research.
- Experts emphasize that the observational design and single ethnic cohort limit the study’s generalizability, calling for randomized trials and diverse population studies to confirm findings.