COVID vaccines still protect against heart problems, large study finds

The updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine continues to offer significant protection against cardiovascular disease, particularly for individuals over 75 and those with pre-existing medical conditions. This finding is based on a large-scale study analyzing data from over 1 million patients within a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, reinforces previous evidence that COVID-19 vaccines substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications following infection, including heart attacks and strokes. The study specifically examined the vaccine's efficacy against "major adverse cardiovascular events" (MACE), a composite endpoint encompassing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure hospitalizations. This benefit is notable given the evolving nature of the virus, continuous vaccine updates, increased population immunity from prior infections and vaccinations, and an overall decrease in severe outcomes.