Researchers have identified a potential cardiovascular benefit associated with the current shingles vaccine, according to findings published in Nature Medicine. The study, led by Dr. Maxime Taquet at the University of Oxford, analyzed health records from 70,000 adults aged 60 and older over a seven-year period following vaccination with Shingrix.
The research found that individuals who received Shingrix experienced a 12% reduction in cardiovascular events—including heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke—during the first three and a half years after vaccination. The protective effect declined to a 4% reduction by the end of the follow-up period. Scientists noted that while the absolute risk reduction is modest, the aggregate public health impact could be substantial given that heart disease and stroke rank among the leading causes of mortality worldwide.
Shingles is a serious condition caused by reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus and can result in prolonged nerve pain lasting months or years. The current vaccine, Shingrix, represents a more effective option than its predecessor Zostavax, which was introduced in 2006. The study design addressed limitations in previous research by comparing cardiovascular disease rates before and after the rapid transition from the older to newer vaccine in the United States around 2017, rather than simply comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.
Researchers are investigating potential mechanisms underlying the observed cardiovascular benefits. One hypothesis suggests that shingles itself may increase cardiovascular risk, making disease prevention through vaccination beneficial. An alternative explanation proposes that the vaccine triggers broader immune system effects that reduce inflammatory proteins. Multiple clinical trials are currently underway to confirm these findings with more rigorous evidence.
Experts acknowledge that a randomized controlled trial would provide definitive confirmation of the vaccine’s cardiovascular benefits. Dr. Hugo Pedder from the University of Bristol characterized the current observational study as providing high-quality evidence while emphasizing the need for randomized trials to establish causality with greater confidence.
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