Shingrix Shingles Vaccine Linked to 9 Percent Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Oxford Study Finds
A study published in Nature Medicine on August 26, 2026, found that the Shingrix shingles vaccine is associated with a 9 percent lower overall risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the older Zostavax vaccine. Researchers from the University of Oxford analyzed health records from more than 140,000 adults aged 60 and older. The findings also showed a 10 percent reduction in coronary heart disease risk and a 12 percent reduction in heart failure risk.
<p>A study published in <em>Nature Medicine</em> on August 26, 2026, found that the Shingrix shingles vaccine is associated with a 9 percent lower overall risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the older Zostavax vaccine. Researchers from the University of Oxford led the analysis, which tracked more than 140,000 adults aged 60 and older over seven years.</p>
<p>The study used a "natural experiment" design, comparing health outcomes between people who received Shingrix and those who received Zostavax during the 2017 transition between the two vaccines in the United States. This approach was designed to reduce "healthy vaccine bias," a common problem in observational studies where vaccinated people may already have better health or greater access to care.</p>
<p>Specific findings included a 10 percent reduction in coronary heart disease risk, a 12 percent reduction in heart failure risk, and a 12 percent reduction in stroke risk among men. The study also found a 7 percent lower incidence of atrial fibrillation. In the first three and a half years after vaccination, the associated reduction in cardiovascular events was 12 percent.</p>
<p>Researchers proposed several possible explanations. The vaccine may suppress inflammatory proteins that contribute to the buildup of fat in artery walls. Its adjuvant, AS01, may also trigger beneficial changes in the immune system. Because the herpes zoster virus itself raises cardiovascular risk, preventing shingles infections may indirectly protect the heart and brain.</p>
<p>The study does not prove causation. Researchers said the results need confirmation through randomized controlled trials. One such trial, the DAN ZOSTER study involving roughly 162,000 participants in Denmark, is underway, with initial results expected in 2027.</p>
<p>Shingrix is already recommended for adults 50 and older by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting vaccines may offer health benefits beyond their primary targets.</p>
