THE shingles vaccine lowers the risk of a heart attack or stroke for up to eight years, new research shows.
People given a jab to protect against the painful rash illness have a 23 per cent lower risk of potentially deadly cardiovascular events.
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The findings, involving more than 1.2 million people, were published in the European Heart Journal.
The protective effect was particularly pronounced for men, people under the age of 60 and those with unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and lack of exercise.
Study leader Professor Dong Keon Yon, of Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, South Korea, said: “Shingles causes a painful rash and can lead to serious complications, especially in older adults and those with weak immune systems.
“Previous research shows that, without vaccination, about 30 per cent of people may develop shingles in their lifetime.
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“In addition to the rash, shingles has been linked to a higher risk of heart problems.”
The data from adults aged 50 or older living in South Korea showed those who got the jab had a 23 per cent lower risk of a cardiovascular event overall.
They had a 26 per cent lower risk of “major” cardiovascular events – a stroke, heart attack or death from heart disease.
A 26 per cent lower risk of heart failure and a 22 per cent lower risk of coronary heart disease was also shown.
The protective effect was strongest in the two to three years after the shingles vaccine was given, but researchers found that the protection lasted for up to eight years.
Professor Yon said: “There are several reasons why the shingles vaccine may help reduce heart disease.
“A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease.
“By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks.
“However, as this study is based on an Asian cohort, the results may not apply to all populations.
“This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies following a healthy general population over a period of up to 12 years.”
The vaccine was a live zoster vaccine, meaning it contained a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles.
The research team plans to study the non-live type of vaccine that is offered in many countries, including the UK.
The Shingrix vaccine is offered free on the NHS to everyone in their 70s, as well as some over-65s following an expansion in 2023.
But uptake is low, with fewer than half of eligible people in the UK taking up the offer.
It comes after a study published last month found that the shingles jab could reduce the risk of dementia by 20 per cent.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SHINGLES VACCINE?
SHINGLES vaccination is mainly offered depending on age because the infection is more common in older people and can be more severe for them.
These are the eligibility criteria in England and Wales:
- All 70 to 79-year-olds
- 65 to 69-year-olds who turned 65 on or after 1st September 2023
- People aged 50 or over with a severely weakened immune system, for example due to blood cancer or organ transplant
The vaccine is administered in two doses spaced between six and 12 months apart.
Patients should contact their GP to find out more or book a jab.
The research, by Stanford University in the US, compared medical records from 280,000 people in Wales before and after its vaccine rollout began in 2013.
This was when an older version of the shingles jab, named Zostavax, was administered.
Professor Anthony Hannan, of the Florey Institute in Australia, was not part of the study but said: “It is possible that the vaccine had direct effects on the brain’s immune cells, but it is also possible that the vaccine acted by slowing brain aging or enhancing resilience.”