A recent observational study published online August 26, 2026, in Nature Medicine suggests that adults aged 60 and older who received the newer shingles vaccine, Shingrix, experienced a lower risk of several cardiovascular problems compared with those who received the older vaccine, Zostavax, according to reports detailed by AOL.
Researchers examined health records from more than 72,000 adults, utilizing two closely matched groups of 36,460 participants each. About 94% of individuals in one group had received Shingrix, while roughly 99% of those in the comparison group had received Zostavax. The natural shift in the United States from Zostavax—an older, live-attenuated vaccine—to Shingrix, a recombinant vaccine made using a single viral protein, allowed scientists to compare two vaccinated groups rather than comparing vaccinated individuals with unvaccinated ones.
Shingrix Recipients Show Lower Cardiovascular Risks
Over a seven-year follow-up period, participants who received Shingrix were 9% less likely to develop a combination of cardiovascular issues, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and ischemic stroke, than recipients of the older vaccine. Specific risk reductions included a 10% lower risk of ischemic heart disease and a 12% lower risk of heart failure. Men in the study showed a 12% lower risk of ischemic stroke.
The protective association appeared strongest during the first few years following vaccination, gradually tapering off over time. Maxime Taquet, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford and one of the study’s authors, noted that while the absolute effect was 1%, applying that percentage to millions of at-risk Americans could translate into hundreds of thousands of prevented heart attacks, heart failures, and strokes.
Observational Research Cannot Prove Direct Cause
Despite the positive associations, experts emphasize that the research was observational and cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Dr. Taquet and other specialists pointed out that observational designs leave open the possibility of unmeasured health behaviors. Previous studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated populations often contended with healthy user bias, whereas comparing two vaccine groups minimizes that skew.
Researchers have proposed potential biological explanations, though none are definitively proven. One hypothesis centers on AS01B, an immune-boosting adjuvant in Shingrix designed to enhance immune response, which may influence inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease. Another theory suggests that preventing painful shingles outbreaks indirectly protects the heart by reducing the inflammatory responses and blood clotting changes that viral infections can trigger.
Vaccine Does Not Replace Heart Habits
Medical professionals stress that the findings do not establish Shingrix as a primary heart medication. Patients should not receive the vaccine solely for cardiovascular protection, but rather for its primary indication: preventing shingles and its complications. Vaccination does not replace foundational heart-healthy habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends that adults aged 50 and older receive two doses of Shingrix, administered two to six months apart. Federal health guidance also indicates that individuals who previously received Zostavax can still receive the newer Shingrix series.
