Study Shows COVID Vaccines Reduce Heart Risks, Benefit Older Adults
3 verified2 unconfirmed
A large new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of COVID-associated major adverse cardiovascular events by about 38 percent. The research analyzed electronic medical records of more than 1 million patients in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health system who received a seasonal flu shot between September and December 2024. About one-third of those patients also received an updated COVID-19 vaccine, while the others served as a control group. After eight months of follow-up, researchers found the vaccine’s cardiovascular protection was strongest among people aged 75 and older and those with underlying health conditions like kidney and lung disease. The absolute benefit was modest, with the event rate dropping from about 5 per 10,000 to 3 per 10,000. The findings confirm that updated COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide significant protection against heart attacks, strokes, and other serious cardiac events linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
What’s verified
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of COVID-associated major adverse cardiovascular events by about 38 percent.
The study included data from over 1 million patients in the VA health system who received flu shots in fall 2024; about one-third also received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The cardiovascular benefit was strongest among people aged 75 and older and those with underlying health conditions.
Not yet confirmed
One source reported that COVID vaccination was also tied to a nearly 24 percent reduction in all-cause cardiac events, not just those with a documented COVID diagnosis. The study’s lead researcher suggested many cardiac events may be linked to unrecognized COVID infections.
One source included comments from researchers Ziyad Al-Aly, Robert Califf, and Bill Hanage, as well as details of additional studies on vaccine effectiveness from the CDC and European researchers.
Misconceptions
One source addressed early concerns about vaccine-related myocarditis, noting that studies have found it is significantly milder than myocarditis resulting from an actual COVID infection.
Key figures
Ziyad Al-Aly (lead researcher, Washington University in St. Louis), Robert Califf (former FDA commissioner, cardiologist), Bill Hanage (professor of epidemiology, Harvard University)
Sources: Ars Technica, statnews.com
