Adults who have received the shingles vaccine are 26% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, latest research has underscored.
A new study from experts in South Korea has found that the shingles vaccine can protect people from experiencing a heart attack and stroke for up to eight years.
Researchers also discovered that the vaccine’s protective effects were particularly pronounced among men, individuals under 60, and those with unhealthy habits that heighten the risk of severe heart-related conditions.
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Shingles is a painful condition affecting the nerves and skin, caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus responsible for chickenpox. It can re-emerge years after the initial infection, leading to a distinctive, often uncomfortable rash.
While shingles is generally not life-threatening, it poses greater danger to older adults and people with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing cancer treatment.
For this reason, certain groups in the UK are eligible for a shingles vaccination to help prevent serious illness.
Now, emerging evidence points to further health advantages. A study led by Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Korea looked at medical data from nearly 1.3 million people, averaging 61 years of age.
Half had received the shingles vaccine, and half had not.
Researchers tracked cardiovascular health outcomes over a 12-year period and adjusted for variables such as age, income, smoking, and alcohol use.
The analysis revealed that vaccinated individuals had a 23% lower overall risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
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That figure rose to 26% when considering major events like strokes, heart attacks, or heart failure.
Additionally, those who received the vaccine were 22% less likely to experience coronary artery disease.
First author Professor Dong Keon Yon said: “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.”
Read the full study in the European Heart Journal.
