What Did Scientists Find?
A new study shows that the shingles vaccine does more than stop painful rashes. It also helps protect people from other serious health problems.
Researchers found that adults 50 and older who get the shingles vaccine have:
21% less chance of dying early
50% less chance of getting dementia (memory problems) caused by blood flow issues
27% less chance of getting dangerous blood clots
25% less chance of having a heart attack or stroke
Why Does This Matter?
“Shingles is more than just a rash—it can raise the risk of serious problems for the heart and brain,” said Dr. Ali Dehghani, one of the researchers.
The vaccine helps lower these risks, especially for people who already have a higher chance of heart attacks or strokes.
How Did They Learn This?
Scientists looked at medical records from more than 174,000 adults across the United States. They compared people who got the shingles vaccine with people who didn’t.
What Is Shingles?
Shingles causes painful, itchy rashes on your skin. It happens when an old virus in your body wakes up. This virus is the same one that causes chickenpox.
If you had chickenpox as a kid (and most people born before 1980 did), the virus stays in your body forever. Years later, it can wake up and cause shingles.
About 1 out of every 3 people in America will get shingles at some point in their life.
Who Should Get the Vaccine?
Health experts say adults 50 and older should get two shots of the shingles vaccine.
You don’t need to know if you had chickenpox before getting the vaccine. Almost everyone born before 1980 had it, even if they don’t remember.
The Bottom Line
The shingles vaccine protects you from painful rashes AND helps keep your heart and brain healthier as you get older.
