More than 1 million veterans in a VA study showed nearly 24% fewer all-cause cardiac events after COVID vaccination over the following eight months, extending beyond cases with a documented COVID diagnosis.
A roughly 38% lower risk of COVID-associated major cardiovascular events suggests vaccines may prevent infections that go untested but still trigger heart attacks, strokes and related hospitalizations.
Protection was strongest in veterans 75 and older and those with chronic kidney or lung disease, and both mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines showed cardioprotective effects.
Researchers estimated that effect size could avert about 3,500 major cardiac events and 2,400 deaths annually per 1 million people, though the JAMA Internal Medicine study was observational rather than randomized.
The findings arrive as COVID vaccine uptake among older adults trails flu shots by more than half, highlighting a potentially missed safeguard in a veteran population already burdened by cardiovascular disease.
Why did the vaccine protect veterans from heart attacks but show no clear benefit against strokes in the same study?
Could the annual COVID shot become a standard defense against heart disease, not just the virus itself?
New Evidence: 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Significantly Lowers Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in High-Risk Adults
Overview
Recent studies published in June 2026 reveal that COVID-19 vaccination provides significant cardiovascular protection, especially among U.S. veterans. These findings, highlighted in JAMA Internal Medicine and supported by experts like Ziyad Al-Aly and Robert Califf, show that COVID vaccines not only prevent infection but also reduce the risk of heart-related complications. This benefit fits into a broader pattern seen with other vaccines, which have been shown to lower the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccination is a valuable tool for protecting long-term heart health.