Shingrix vaccine linked to modest reduction in heart disease risk
Researchers found that recipients of the recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix experienced slightly fewer cardiovascular events than those who received the older vaccine.
Scientists analyzing seven years of health data reported that the newer recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix may lower the incidence of serious cardiovascular conditions compared with the older, live-attenuated vaccine. The investigation, appearing in Nature Medicine, tracked two cohorts: individuals who received the discontinued vaccine in 2017 and those who were given Shingrix in 2018. Results showed a 1.3 % absolute reduction in heart-related outcomes, translating to 96 cases per 1,000 people versus 109 per 1,000 in the older-vaccine group.
Maxime Taquet, a data scientist at the University of Oxford, called the association “puzzling and interesting,” noting that even a modest risk drop could save many lives if confirmed. The study builds on earlier hints that the former shingles vaccine might protect against dementia, though that link remains debated. Confirmation in clinical trials could have a large public-health impact.
Why it matters
If the vaccine truly reduces heart disease, a widely used immunization could help lower a leading cause of death.
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