Shingles is a painful condition that becomes more common with age. It’s caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox.
After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells and can reactivate years later, causing shingles.
Shingles typically presents as a painful rash that can last for weeks. Some individuals also experience persistent nerve pain after the rash heals. Additionally, research indicates that shingles may temporarily increase the risk of serious health issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
Previous studies have shown that the risk of a heart attack or stroke peaks within the first month after shingles onset. If the virus affects nerves in the face, the stroke risk may even double or triple. This has led scientists to explore whether preventing shingles could also help protect the heart and brain.
Recent research suggests the shingles vaccine could provide such protection. Data shows that vaccinated individuals are less likely to be hospitalized for heart attacks or strokes shortly after receiving the vaccine. This adds to the growing evidence that vaccines may offer benefits beyond just preventing infections.
The study, led by James Mbinta, examined health data from 278,375 adults in New Zealand who received the shingles vaccine between 2018 and 2021. Most participants were over 70, which is the age group most at risk for shingles.
Researchers analyzed hospital records during two timeframes: the first 42 days after vaccination and a later period from 72 to 162 days post-vaccination. This comparison helped determine if the risk of heart attacks and strokes changed after vaccination.
Encouraging results showed that hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes significantly decreased during the first six weeks after vaccination. The vaccine appeared to lower the risk of these critical events by approximately 50% during this period.
These findings are supported by earlier studies from Australia, which also observed reductions in strokes among vaccinated seniors aged 70 to 79. Collectively, evidence suggests that shingles vaccination offers health benefits beyond infection prevention.
While the shingles vaccine was already recognized for reducing postherpetic neuralgia, a lingering nerve pain, the new data indicates it might also help lower the risk of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues, especially in older individuals.
Since about one in three people will develop shingles during their lifetime—and risk increases with age due to declining immunity—vaccination could help many seniors avoid both the illness and potentially life-threatening complications.
Experts recommend discussing vaccination options with healthcare providers, as individual risks and benefits can vary. Nonetheless, these findings offer additional motivation for older adults to get vaccinated.
The study was published in Nature Communications, highlighting how vaccines can contribute to long-term health protection and potentially reduce incidents of heart attacks and strokes among seniors.
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