Recently, as temperatures have fallen below freezing, the risk of various infections due to decreased immunity has increased. When thinking of winter infections, respiratory diseases like the common cold usually come to mind first, but shingles is also a frequently occurring disease. Recently, research findings have been published that shingles vaccination can reduce the risk of brain and cardiovascular diseases, further emphasizing the importance of preventive vaccination.

● Live shingles vaccine reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 26%

Professor Yeon Dong-geon of Kyung Hee University School of Medicine's Digital Health Department recently stated in an interview with Dong-A Ilbo at Kyung Hee University's Seoul Campus, "The hypothesis that the shingles vaccine helps reduce inflammatory responses in the body has been proven through various studies over the past two to three years," adding, "It contributes to reducing the risk of a wide range of diseases from cardiovascular to brain diseases." Reducing inflammatory responses, known as the root of all diseases, shows preventive effects not only against the shingles virus but also other diseases.

In August, Professor Yeon published research results in the international journal 'European Heart Journal' showing that the live shingles vaccine helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. Live vaccines are those in which the virulence of live viruses or bacteria is almost eliminated, distinguishing them from inactivated vaccines where pathogens are completely killed. Currently, SK Bioscience's 'Sky Zoster' is the only live shingles vaccine available in Korea.

Professor Yeon analyzed medical data of over 1.678 million Koreans aged 50 and older from 2012 to 2021. The results showed that the group vaccinated with the live shingles vaccine had a 26% reduced risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) such as myocardial infarction and heart failure compared to the unvaccinated group. This effect was highest two to three years after vaccination and lasted up to eight years. Professor Yeon explained, "The preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases overall is a remarkable result," suggesting that the additional preventive effects of the live shingles vaccine could be extensive.

Shingles occurs when the 'varicella-zoster virus (VZV)', known for causing chickenpox in childhood, becomes active when immunity is weakened. It can cause severe neuralgia as it resides in the ganglia, and in severe cases, can lead to complications such as facial paralysis and encephalitis.

● “Expansion of free shingles vaccination needed”

In September, Professor Yeon published a paper in the international journal 'Allergy' stating that the live shingles vaccine also helps prevent chronic respiratory diseases. Analyzing medical data of over 250 Koreans aged 50 and older, it was found that vaccination reduced the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 30%, asthma by 32%, and interstitial lung disease (ILD) by 22%. Particularly, the severity rate requiring hospitalization decreased significantly by up to 41%.

Overseas, research results have shown that the live shingles vaccine is effective in preventing Alzheimer's disease. A research team at Stanford University in the United States published findings in April this year in the international journal 'Nature' that the live shingles vaccine reduces the risk of Alzheimer's. According to the paper, analyzing medical data of over 280,000 individuals aged 71 to 88 showed that those vaccinated had about a 20% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's.

As research results continue to emerge showing that the live shingles vaccine reduces the risk of diseases that can be fatal in the elderly, there is increasing advocacy for including the shingles vaccine in the National Immunization Program (NIP). Currently, the shingles vaccine is not included in the NIP, so local governments provide free vaccinations only to citizens who meet specific conditions by securing budgets. Professor Yeon stated, "Expanding free vaccinations by local governments and ultimately providing the shingles vaccine for free through the NIP would be desirable," adding, "It is a way to reduce social costs in an aging society."

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