ACC

ACC 2026: Shingles vaccine tied to sharp drop in cardiac events

March 18, 2026

A large retrospective cohort study being presented on March 30, 2026 at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) found that the shingles (herpes zoster; HZ) vaccine was associated with substantially lower cardiovascular risk in adults ≥50 years with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Using the U.S. TriNetX database from 2018 to 2024, researchers matched 275,304 vaccinated patients with an equal number of unvaccinated counterparts. Compared with their unvaccinated counterparts, vaccinated adults experienced a 46% reduction in overall MACE, 32% lower risk of MI, 25% lower stroke risk, 25% lower heart‑failure risk, and a 66% reduction in all‑cause mortality from one month to one year post‑vaccination. These risk reductions were described as comparable to the magnitude expected from smoking cessation.

Source:

(2026, March 17). American College of Cardiology. Shingles Vaccine Drastically Cuts Risk of Serious Cardiac Events [Press release]. https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2026/03/16/19/33/Shingles-Vaccine-Drastically-Cuts-Risk-of-Serious-Cardiac-Events