Flu shot and the heart

Just as flu shot clinics are rolling out the red carpets, University of Toronto researchers have discovered another reason to get in line.

It seems the vaccine doesn’t just protect you from a serious bout of influenza. It may reduce your risk of a heart attack. The study found people who skipped the vaccination were almost twice as likely to suffer a major cardiac event within a year, than those who did get the shot. And the effect was even greater among people with a recent history of heart disease. They reduced the risk of a second cardiac event by 13% after vaccination compared to those who didn’t get the shot.