A new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) clinical consensus statement, published in the European Heart Journal, argues that vaccination should be systematically integrated into cardiovascular preventive care; particularly for patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD).1
Why this matters
The statement synthesizes evidence that common infections (e.g., pneumonia, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV) can worsen heart failure and are associated with higher rates of major cardiovascular events. Beyond preventing infection itself, vaccination is highlighted as a means to reduce cardiovascular complications in at-risk patients.
Positioning within prevention
The statement concludes that vaccination should be considered a foundational pillar of cardiovascular prevention alongside established measures, such as antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs and diabetes medications. The document emphasizes systematic adoption within routine CVD care.
Who to consider
The statement reflects and collates ESC and ACC/AHA guidance advocating routine vaccination (notably influenza) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes and heart failure.2,3,4 Vaccines should be considered for vulnerable populations, including transplant recipients, patients with congenital heart disease, immunosuppressed individuals, and pregnant women.
Safety
Serious vaccine-related adverse events are described as very rare. The document discusses cardiovascular adverse events after vaccination, including myocarditis, and outlines management considerations.
What clinicians can do now
- Check vaccination status during cardiology visits and take every opportunity to offer vaccination.
- Coordinate with primary care/public health to improve coverage in CVD populations.
- Offer guidance to patients and families, discussing expected benefits and the risks associated with vaccination.
References
- Heidecker B, Libby P, Vassiliou VS, et al. Vaccination as a new form of cardiovascular prevention: a European Society of Cardiology clinical consensus statement. Eur Heart J. 2025;00:1–14.
- Vrints C, Andreotti F, Koskinas KC, et al. 2024 ESC guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J. 2024;45:3415–537.
- Virani SS, Newby LK, Arnold SV, et al. 2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline for the management of patients with chronic coronary disease: a report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology joint committee on clinical practice guidelines. Circulation. 2023;148:e9–119.
- Rao SV, O’Donoghue ML, Ruel M, et al. 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI guideline for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines. Circulation. 2025;151:e771–862.
Cite: ESC calls for vaccination to be recognized as a pillar of cardiovascular prevention. touchCARDIO. 1 September 2025.
Editor: Victoria Smith, Senior Content Editor.
Disclosures: This article was created by the touchCARDIO team utilizing AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.) The content was developed and edited by human editors. No funding was received in the publication of this article.
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