Shingles vaccine may lower risk of stroke and heart failure
New Scientist · 2026-08-26
A recent study indicates that the Shingrix shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart failure, stroke, and clogged arteries. Researchers at the University of Oxford analyzed medical records of over 72,000 people aged 60 and older. They leveraged a natural experiment, comparing outcomes between those who received Zostavax before October 2017 and those who received Shingrix afterwards. By 3.5 years post-vaccination, 9.6 percent of the Shingrix group had developed at least one of the three conditions, compared to 10.9 percent in the Zostavax group, a statistically significant difference. This benefit, though small in percentage, could protect a large number of people given the high incidence of heart disease.
The study provides the strongest evidence to date for a link between shingles vaccination and reduced cardiovascular disease risk, mitigating biases common in observational research. Researchers estimate that if all US citizens aged 50 and older received Shingrix, hundreds of thousands of cardiovascular problems could be delayed or prevented within a decade. Shingrix is also more effective at preventing shingles than Zostavax, which further reduces inflammation that can stress the heart. An ongoing trial in Denmark, with initial results expected in 2027, aims to provide even stronger evidence for a causal link to lower risks of cardiovascular outcomes and dementia. The same vaccine has previously been linked to a significantly lower risk of dementia.