--- title: "Shingrix vaccine may reduce heart disease and dementia risk" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk" category: "Health" published: "2026-08-26T09:45:40.497Z" source_reported: "2026-08-26T09:00:38.000Z" updated: "2026-08-26T09:45:40.497Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-26T09:58:43.061Z" --- # Shingrix vaccine may reduce heart disease and dementia risk *A study suggests the recombinant shingles vaccine offers protection against cardiovascular events and cognitive decline.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and two digests cite a study linking the recombinant shingles vaccine to reduced cardiovascular events and dementia. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and four digests cover the study, with one digest irrelevant to the core findings. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use terms like 'game-changer' and 'protecting both heart and brain'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix may offer protection against cardiovascular events, according to a study. - The vaccine was linked to a 24% lower risk of dementia in older adults in one analysis. - Researchers suggest the vaccine's adjuvant may cause beneficial changes in immune cells and the vascular endothelium. - The apparent cardiovascular benefit was mainly observed in the first 3.5 years after vaccination. A study suggests that the recombinant shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may offer protection against cardiovascular events and dementia. Research published in Nature Medicine indicated that individuals vaccinated with Shingrix experienced a nine percent reduction in cardiovascular disease burden over seven years compared to those who received the older Zostavax vaccine. This benefit was observed across several conditions, including a 10% reduction in coronary heart disease, a 12% reduction in heart failure, and a seven percent reduction in atrial fibrillation. Stroke outcomes were less clear, though a 12% lower burden was noted in men receiving Shingrix. Another analysis, drawing on Medicare data and health records of over 500,000 adults, linked the Shingrix vaccine to a 24% lower risk of dementia in older adults. This study compared patients who received at least one dose of Shingrix with unvaccinated individuals over a four-year follow-up period. Dementia developed in 18.8% of vaccinated participants compared to 24.6% of those who were not vaccinated. The study authors noted that while the findings suggest a link, they cannot definitively prove cause and effect, and further clinical trials are needed. ## Disagreement on dementia risk reduction One study reported a 24% lower risk of dementia in older adults who received the Shingrix vaccine. Another report mentioned that the same vaccine group had a 17% lower risk of dementia over the follow-up period compared to the live vaccine group. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated or right-rated reports mentioned the specific methodology used by Inside Precision Medicine, which involved comparing groups vaccinated in 2017 and 2018. The centre-rated reports did not mention the specific funding source for the Science Daily study, which was GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Shingrix. No reports mentioned the potential for repeated vaccination at regular intervals as suggested by the researchers in Inside Precision Medicine. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 67% (4) - Right: 33% (2) 2 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-26T09:58:43.061Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-26T11:45:10.674Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led on the potential cardiovascular benefits of the Shingrix vaccine. Inside Precision Medicine highlighted that the vaccine may offer protection against cardiovascular events, citing a nine percent reduction in cardiovascular disease burden and specific reductions in coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Science Daily focused on the vaccine's link to a 24% lower risk of dementia, presenting it as adding to evidence of vaccination's neuroprotective benefits. New Scientist also noted the potential for reduced stroke and heart failure risk, while STAT reported on the vaccine's link to lower heart disease and dementia risk, calling it a 'natural experiment' by Oxford researchers. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on the dementia risk reduction associated with the Shingrix vaccine. The News described the vaccine as a 'game-changer' for lowering dementia risk in older adults. La Razón reported that a study of over 500,000 older people detected fewer cases of dementia among those vaccinated against herpes zoster, citing a 24% lower risk. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 3 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Diari de la Discapacitat](https://diarideladiscapacitat.cat/un-estudi-amb-mes-de-500-000-gent-gran-vincula-la-vacuna-de-lherpes-zoster-amb-un-menor-risc-de-demencia) — A Study of More than 500,000 Elderly People Links the Herpes Zoster Vaccine to a Lower Risk of Dementia - [Inside Precision Medicine](https://insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/patient-care/recombinant-shingles-vaccine-linked-to-lower-cardiovascular-events) — Recombinant Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Cardiovascular Events - [NewScientist](https://newscientist.com/article/2586346-shingles-vaccine-may-lower-risk-of-stroke-and-heart-failure) — Shingles vaccine may lower risk of stroke and heart failure - [STAT](https://statnews.com/2026/08/26/shingles-vaccine-shingrix-reduces-heart-disease-dementia-risk-oxford-study) — Newer shingles vaccine linked to lower heart disease risk, ‘natural experiment’ shows - [The News](https://thenews.com.pk/latest/1413662-scientists-find-clue-to-lower-dementia-risk-in-older-adults-through-new-game-changer-vaccine) — Scientists find clue to lower dementia risk in older adults through new ‘game-changer’ vaccine - [La Razón](https://larazon.es/sociedad/estudio-mas-500000-mayores-detecta-menos-casos-demencia-vacunados-herpes-zoster_202608266a8e8119ae2f3735da14377f.html) — A Study of More than 500,000 Older People Detects Fewer Cases of Dementia Among Herpes Zoster Vaccinated - [Science Daily](https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015013.htm) — Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk - [Medscape](https://medscape.com/viewarticle/shingles-young-australians-prompts-vaccination-discussion-2026a1000tjs) — Shingles in Young Australians Prompts Vaccination Discussion ## Questions **What is the potential cardiovascular benefit of the Shingrix vaccine?** A study suggests the Shingrix vaccine may offer a nine percent reduction in cardiovascular disease burden over seven years compared to the older Zostavax vaccine. Specific reductions included 10% for coronary heart disease, 12% for heart failure, and 7% for atrial fibrillation. **How does Shingrix potentially reduce dementia risk?** One analysis linked the Shingrix vaccine to a 24% lower risk of dementia in older adults. Researchers are exploring whether the vaccine's AS01 adjuvant may produce temporary, beneficial changes in innate immune cells and the vascular endothelium. **When was the cardiovascular benefit of Shingrix most apparent?** The apparent cardiovascular benefit of Shingrix emerged mainly in the first 3.5 years after vaccination and then weakened. This suggests the immune changes may be time-limited. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Shingrix vaccine may reduce heart disease and dementia risk", https://mediabias.news/health/shingrix-vaccine-may-reduce-heart-disease-and-dementia-risk