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The shingles vaccine, which can prevent the condition with up to 97% effectiveness, is widely used to protect against the herpes zoster virus, known for causing painful rashes and nerve inflammation. Now, new evidence suggests it may also play a role in supporting cardiovascular health.
Meta-Analysis Highlights Reduced Risk
A recent meta-analysis led by Charles Williams from the biopharmaceutical company GSK reviewed 19 previous studies on the vaccine and its broader health impacts. The analysis found that adults over 50 who received the vaccine had a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, while adults between 18 and 50 showed an 18% risk reduction. These findings will be presented on Saturday, August 30, at the 2025 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid.
Researchers have already linked the shingles vaccine to other health benefits beyond preventing the infection itself. For instance, research published in April indicated a 20% decrease in dementia risk among vaccinated individuals, while a separate observational study in May reported that people who received the Zostavax vaccine had a 26% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
Risks Associated With Shingles
On the other hand, researchers have long linked shingles to cardiovascular problems. One study found that the disease can trigger the creation of sac-like structures carrying clotting proteins that elevate stroke risk. Another revealed that people who experienced shingles had up to a 30% higher chance of suffering a cardiovascular event in the years after infection.
Considering this background, the idea that a shingles vaccine could improve heart health aligns with prior research.Still, Williams urged readers to interpret his team’s findings with caution and highlighted several limitations in the data.
Although the results are promising, the studies we reviewed come with important caveats,” Williams said. “Most of the evidence was observational, which carries the risk of bias and cannot prove causation. Additionally, nearly all the research in the meta-analysis focused on the vaccine’s ability to prevent shingles in the general population, which may limit how well these findings apply to people with higher cardiovascular risk. This underlines the need for more targeted research in the future.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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