This vaccine decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 26%, why was it suspended in the United States?

The nerve!

A type of herpes virus, the varicose-zoster virus, causes chickenpox to childhood and tiles later in life.

The tiles travel through the nerves, causing a distinctive rash and what some have described as the worst pain they have ever experienced.

An infection by tiles can cause damage to blood vessels, inflammation and formation of clots, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Senior adults, people with weak immune systems and those with chickenpox have a higher risk of tiles. Experts say vaccination is the most effective way to reduce this risk.

Now, a new South Korea study reports that a certain type of vaccine can offer benefits beyond decreasing the risk of tiles, but is no longer available in the United States.

The live zoster vaccine, which contains a weakened version of the tile virus, can reduce the risk of heart failure, a stroke, a heart attack or a death from heart disease by 26% up to eight years, according to the research published on Monday in The European Heart Journal.

“Our study suggests that the shingles can help reduce the risk of heart disease, even in known risk factors,” said Dong Keon Yon, from Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul.

“This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond the prevention of tiles.”

South Korea offers two live vaccines: Skyzoster was approved in 2017 and Zostavax in 2009.

The United States allowed Zostavax until 2020.

Researchers found that their effectiveness decreased over time and did not protect everyone, such as people over 80 and those with weakened immune systems.

Studies suggested that Zostavax was 67% effective in the first year, but only 50% effective in the second year.

It was replaced by Shingrix, a recombinant vaccine that uses a varicella-zoster virus protein to activate the immune system of the body to recognize and fight the virus. It has been found that Shingrix is ​​more than 90% effective to prevent tiles.

Disease control and prevention centers recommend that 50 -year -old healthy adults and adult immunocompromas of 19 years and more have two doses of Shingrix.

Yon’s team said that more research is needed on the recombinant vaccine to see if it can provide cardio benefits similar to that of the live zoster vaccine. South Korea also offers Shingrix.

Yon’s study included data of more than 1.2 million adults of 50 years in South Korea.

The protective effect was stronger in the two or three years after vaccination, and especially in men, people under 60, and those who smoke, drink alcohol or avoid exercise.

“This is one of the largest and most complete studies after a healthy general population for a period of up to 12 years,” said Yon.

“For the first time, this has allowed us to examine the association between the vaccination of tiles and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease,” he added. “We have been able to take into account various health conditions, life factors and socioeconomic state, making our findings more robust.”

Yon said that the study does not establish a direct causal relationship between the vaccine and the lower risk of heart problems, so the underlying factors must be taken into account.