Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Study Suggests

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Study Suggests

DECK
South Korean researchers uncover a surprising link: those who receive the shingles vaccine appear less likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes—even years after the jab.

---

KEY FACTS 

• What: Study links shingles vaccination to reduced cardiovascular risks.
• Where: National cohort study conducted in South Korea.
• When: Published Monday in the European Heart Journal.
• Who: Over one million adults aged 50 and above analyzed.
• Findings: Vaccinated individuals saw a 23–26% lower risk of heart disease, strokes, and heart failure.
• Response: Calls for further study on newer shingles vaccines like Shingrix.

---

SITUATION SNAPSHOT 
As scientists continue to uncover unexpected ripple effects of vaccines, new data from South Korea suggests that shielding yourself from shingles might also be protecting your heart. In clinics across the country, researchers are poring over patient histories, and what they’ve uncovered could shift the way we think about viral infections and cardiovascular health.

---

WHAT WE KNOW 
Researchers at Kyung Hee University analyzed anonymized health records of more than a million South Koreans aged 50 and older. Beginning in 2012—when shingles vaccination became available—the team compared outcomes between those who received the vaccine and those who did not.

They found that those vaccinated experienced a 23% reduction in risk for developing any new cardiovascular condition. That included a 26% drop in major heart events like strokes and heart attacks, and a similar reduction in heart failure.

While the most robust effects were seen within the first two to three years post-vaccination, benefits appeared to persist for as long as eight years. The vaccine’s protective edge was especially pronounced among men, individuals with poorer health, and residents of rural or lower-income areas.

---

WHAT’S NEXT 
Researchers now plan to examine the cardiovascular impact of Shingrix, the newer, protein-based shingles vaccine that has mostly replaced its predecessor, Zostavax. Future studies may confirm whether it offers even stronger protection not just against shingles but also against cognitive and heart-related illnesses.

---

VOICES ON THE GROUND 
“This suggests that the vaccine may provide not only protection against shingles itself but also potential benefits for heart health,” said study author Sooji Lee in an email to Gizmodo.
“Because our study was conducted in a large general population, these findings may be broadly applicable,” Lee added.

---

CONTEXT
Shingles stems from the varicella zoster virus—the same virus behind childhood chickenpox. Though chickenpox often clears in a week, the virus can lie dormant for decades, reawakening later in life when immunity wanes. This second round, shingles, typically delivers severe pain, rash, and in some cases, long-lasting nerve damage.

Mounting evidence suggests shingles may also set the stage for further complications: links have been established between shingles and increased risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and heart issues. Conversely, vaccination appears to lower these risks. Researchers theorize that shingles-related inflammation and vascular damage may help explain the cardiovascular danger.

---

REPORTER INSIGHT
While these findings come from observational data and cannot prove causation, they raise compelling questions about how viral infections interact with broader systemic health. In an era where public health increasingly intersects with chronic disease prevention, vaccines may offer wider-reaching benefits than once assumed. If further research confirms these protective links, a simple shingles jab could emerge as a quiet yet powerful ally in the fight against heart disease.