A heart-protective shot in the arm


Photo: Filepic/The Star

EARLIER this year, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) issued a landmark clinical consensus statement that should fundamentally change how we think about preventing heart attacks and strokes. The conclusion is clear: vaccination is no longer just a tool for infection control; it is a foundational pillar of cardiovascular management.

For decades, cardiologists have focused on cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking cessation, and antiplatelet therapy to deal with cardiovascular issues. But a growing body of evidence – now crystallised by the ESC – shows that common infections such as influenza, pneumonia, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) directly exacerbate heart failure and trigger major adverse cardiovascular events.

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