I understand that vaccines are a touchy subject. But, as a 30-year family medicine physician, I LOVE vaccines! They decrease infection and save lives. Do I sound like a cheerleader?

A recent study found that people who get the shingles vaccine may have a lower risk of heart disease. The research looked at over a MILLION people aged 50 and older in South Korea. It found that those who got the vaccine had a 23% lower risk of heart problems like stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. This protection lasted for up to eight years.

Shingles is a painful rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has chickenpox, the virus can stay in their body and reactivate later as shingles. The rash can start in any dermatome of the body and it starts as blisters that can itch or burn. This can be very painful and cause serious health problems, especially in older adults and people with weak immune systems. Without vaccination, about 30% of people may get shingles in their lifetime. As we age, the shingles outbreak can cause long-standing nerve pain (even when the rash is gone) and this is called post-herpetic neuralgia. I’ve had two patients of mine not get the vaccine, and get shingles, and they would have hot, zinging pain as they sat in my office to discuss an unrelated health issue. Needless to say, the week I turned 50, I got my first shingrix vaccine. (It is a two-shot regimen.)

The researchers also found that the vaccine’s benefits were even stronger for men, people under 60, and those with unhealthy lifestyles, like smoking or drinking alcohol. They believe the shingles vaccine helps by preventing the inflammation and blood vessel damage that can lead to heart disease.

The study used a live zoster vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the virus. However, many countries now use a different type of vaccine called a recombinant vaccine, which does not contain the live virus. More studies are needed to see if this newer vaccine has the same heart benefits.

While this study is promising, the researchers noted that the results may not apply to everyone. They also pointed out that this type of study cannot prove that the vaccine directly prevents heart disease. More research is needed to confirm the link and understand how the vaccine may protect the heart.

I hope this helps.