19 May 2025 • Herpes zoster vaccination halved the incidence of shingles in patients with inflammatory arthritis, according to a large cohort study.

Among 132,672 patients, vaccinated individuals had an incidence rate of 7.41 cases/1000 person-years compared to 14.7 in unvaccinated patients.

Notably, in those who developed shingles despite vaccination, the risk of venous thromboembolic events more than doubled between 60 and 90 days post-infection (IRR 2.13), while no elevated risk was seen for myocardial infarction, stroke, or major adverse cardiovascular events.

With just 21.6% vaccinated and 73% completing both doses, the findings highlight the need to improve vaccine uptake in this high-risk group.  

Source: BioMed Central | Read Full Story