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Flu shot halves risk of heart attack or stroke in people with history of heart attack, study finds
Published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study reviewed six clinical trials on heart health in people who received the flu vaccine. The studies included more than 6,700 patients with a history of heart disease. The researchers found people who received the flu shot:

•Had a 36 percent lower risk of a major cardiac event (heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiac–related causes) one year later

•Had a 55 percent lower risk of a major cardiac event if they had a recent heart attack

•Were less likely to die from cardiac-related and other causes, and

•Were less likely to have a major cardiac event with a more potent vaccine compared with the standard seasonal vaccine Eurekalert!