Could a shingles jab also help protect the heart?

Recent research suggests that the newer shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may provide added benefits for heart health. Conducted in Nature Medicine and involving over 70,000 individuals, the study found that those who received Shingrix experienced a 9% reduction in overall cardiovascular disease over seven years, with even greater reductions in ischaemic heart disease (10%) and heart failure (12%).

The strongest effects were observed within the first 3.5 years after vaccination, subsequently weakening as the follow-up period continued. Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, typically manifests as a painful rash and can lead to post-herpetic neuralgia. The immune system's weakening with age makes older adults more susceptible to shingles.

While researchers are uncertain why Shingrix might impact heart health, theories include the vaccine's anti-inflammatory effects and the improved immune response it stimulates. This study is observational and cannot confirm Shingrix's direct protective effects against heart disease, but it suggests that further trials may reveal additional cardiovascular benefits from a vaccine designed to prevent a painful viral illness.