A new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session suggests the shingles vaccine could significantly cut the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac-related deaths.
Researchers analyzed over 246,000 adults with atherosclerotic heart disease, half of whom had received at least one dose of shingles vaccine. Vaccinated individuals were 46% less likely to suffer a major adverse cardiac event and 66% less likely to die from any cause.
Dr. Robert Nguyen, the study’s lead author, noted that protective effects may be even greater for those with existing cardiovascular disease.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which lies dormant after chickenpox and can reactivate with age, causing painful rashes and inflammation that raise the risk of stroke and heart issues. By preventing shingles, vaccination reduces inflammatory stress on the cardiovascular system.
However, doctors caution that the vaccine is not approved to treat heart disease. “The primary reason to be vaccinated remains protection against shingles,” said Dr. Lim Wee Peng, Parkway Shenton’s medical director. More research is needed.
Only the Shingrix vaccine is currently available in Singapore, recommended for adults aged 60+ and immunocompromised adults aged 18-59. Side effects are generally mild and temporary.