People with existing heart disease who received the shingles vaccine experienced a nearly 50% reduction in serious cardiac events within a year, according to research presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26). The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the vaccine offers broader health benefits than previously understood.
The study, led by Robert Nguyen, MD, a resident physician at the University of California, Riverside, analyzed data from 246,822 adults in the United States diagnosed with atherosclerotic heart disease – a condition characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. Researchers found that vaccinated individuals were 46% less likely to experience a major adverse cardiac event and 66% less likely to die from any cause compared to those who hadn’t received the vaccine. The analysis spanned data collected between 2018 and 2025.
Specifically, the study revealed a 32% decrease in heart attack risk, a 25% reduction in stroke incidence, and a 25% drop in heart failure rates among those vaccinated. “This vaccine has been found over and over again to have cardioprotective effects for reducing heart attack, stroke and death,” Nguyen said. “Looking at the highest risk population, those with existing cardiovascular disease, these protective effects might be even greater than among the general public.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, for adults age 50 and older, as well as for younger individuals with compromised immune systems. The vaccine targets herpes zoster, the virus that causes shingles, a painful condition that can lead to chronic nerve pain. The virus is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox.
Previous research has indicated a link between shingles infections and an increased risk of blood clot formation near the brain and heart, potentially leading to heart attacks, strokes, and venous thromboembolism. The shingles vaccine, by preventing the initial infection, may therefore mitigate these dangerous clotting events. A 2025 study found that shingles vaccination was linked to a 23% reduction in cardiovascular events in generally healthy adults, with benefits lasting up to eight years.
Researchers utilized the TriNetX database, a large collection of medical records, to conduct their analysis. The study group comprised 123,411 people who had received at least one dose of either the Shingrix or Zostavax vaccine, matched with an equal number of unvaccinated individuals. Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics and other pre-existing health conditions.
Nguyen cautioned that the study only tracked outcomes for one year post-vaccination, and the long-term effects remain to be seen. He also acknowledged the possibility that individuals who choose to acquire vaccinated may be more proactive about their overall health, potentially influencing the results. Researchers adjusted for factors including housing stability, socioeconomic status, social environment, employment, and education levels, but acknowledged that residual confounding may exist. Despite this, the study’s large sample size and statistical methods support a significant association between shingles vaccination and reduced heart risk.
“Vaccines are one of the most important medicines we have to prevent disease,” Nguyen stated. “Sometimes patients are unsure about whether they should get a vaccine or not, particularly in an age of disinformation. These results provide another reason for them to elect to get the vaccine.”
Nguyen is scheduled to present the study, “Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,” on Monday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m. CT / 17:30 UTC in Posters, Hall E.
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