Study uncovers surprise benefits of Shingrix shingles vaccine

• Research from the University of Oxford indicates that the Shingrix shingles vaccine could significantly lower the risk of stroke, heart failure, and heart disease.
• A study of over 70,000 adults aged over 60 found Shingrix recipients lived up to 12 per cent longer without heart failure compared to those given the older Zostavax jab.
• Lead researcher Dr Maxime Taquet estimated that vaccinating everyone over 60 in the UK with Shingrix could prevent tens of thousands of deaths over seven years.
• Scientists believe the vaccine protects the heart either by suppressing the herpes zoster virus or via cardiac benefits from ingredients in the jab.
• The findings published in Nature Medicine follow previous research that linked the Shingrix immunisation to a 17 per cent reduction in dementia diagnoses.

IN FULL

NHS shingles jab could lower risk of stroke and heart attacks, study finds