A recent report published by The Washington Post examined evidence suggesting that these four vaccines may be associated with lower rates of cardiovascular complications. However, the strength of the evidence varies across vaccines, and not all studies establish that vaccination directly prevents heart disease. Experts say preventing severe viral infections may help reduce the strain these illnesses place on the cardiovascular system.
“We’re beginning to understand the large number of problems these viruses can cause beyond, say, a cough and fever,” said Paul Heidenreich, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine, in the report.
Shingles, which develops when the varicella-zoster virus responsible for chickenpox reactivates in the body, can cause a painful rash and nerve pain. Research has also linked the condition to cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks and strokes.
A study published in Nature Medicine in August 2026 compared adults aged 60 and older who received Shingrix, the newer shingles vaccine, with those who received the older vaccine, Zostavax.
During seven years of follow-up, people who received Shingrix had lower rates of ischaemic heart disease and heart failure than those who received Zostavax. Although the study did not establish that the vaccine directly caused this difference, its findings added to earlier research examining the relationship between shingles vaccination and cardiovascular health.
A separate study published in 2025 involving adults aged 50 and older also found an association between receiving two doses of Shingrix and a lower risk of stroke and heart attack.
Noreen Nazir, a cardiologist and co-author of recent American College of Cardiology guidance, described the latest findings as “a really great addition to the literature”.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone aged six months and older in the United States. Influenza can cause complications beyond fever, cough and body aches. The infection can trigger inflammation, increase the strain on the heart and worsen existing cardiovascular disease.
According to The Washington Post, influenza infection was associated with a sixfold increase in hospitalisations for heart attacks during the week after a positive flu test.
The risk is particularly concerning for people who already have heart disease. Severe influenza can aggravate underlying conditions and increase the likelihood of cardiovascular complications.
William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a co-author of the American College of Cardiology paper, said people hospitalised with an underlying high-risk condition such as heart disease are “much more likely to have a cardiovascular event”.
COVID-19 can also affect the cardiovascular system during and after infection. Potential complications include heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms and pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.
People with pre-existing heart conditions are at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19. During the pandemic, people with heart disease were three times as likely to develop a severe infection, according to the report.
Research has also linked COVID-19 infection to longer-term changes in blood vessels. A 2025 study published in the European Heart Journal found an association between COVID-19 and early vascular ageing, a process in which arteries become stiffer and less elastic.
The report noted that updated COVID-19 vaccines had been approved in the United States for adults aged 65 and older, as well as younger people with at least one underlying health condition that increases their risk of complications.
Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, causes respiratory illness in infants and young children but can also lead to severe disease in older adults. The infection can worsen existing cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure.
A study spanning five RSV seasons found that nearly one-quarter of adults aged 50 and older who were hospitalised with RSV experienced an acute cardiac event, often involving heart failure. Those who experienced a cardiac emergency faced nearly twice the risk of severe outcomes compared with those who did not.
Schaffner highlighted the continuing cardiovascular risks associated with viral infections, saying, “There continues to be a high risk of cardiovascular events even after you recover from these viral infections,” he said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for adults aged 75 and older and adults aged 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness.
Together, the findings highlight the potential cardiovascular benefits associated with vaccination against several major viral infections. While the available evidence does not establish that all four vaccines directly prevent heart disease, researchers and experts point to the importance of understanding how infections can affect the heart, particularly among older adults and people living with cardiovascular conditions.
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