New Delhi: Amid rising concerns over sudden heart-attack related deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday, July 1, clarified that COVID-19 vaccines are not linked to such incidents.
Citing findings from studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the ministry restated on Tuesday that the vaccines are safe and not associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults.
“The matter of sudden unexplained deaths has been investigated through several agencies in the country. These studies have conclusively established that there is no direct link between COVID-19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country,” the ministry said.
What Does the Study Reveal?
The government said the two studies offered a comprehensive understanding of sudden adult deaths in India, especially among young people. Researchers found that sudden cardiac deaths could result from a range of factors, including genetic predisposition, pre-existing health issues, post-Covid complications, and lifestyle choices, but not from vaccination.
“COVID-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects,” the ministry added. Experts warned that false claims connecting vaccines to such deaths are not just scientifically inaccurate but also risk fuelling vaccine hesitancy across the country.
The ministry said scientific consensus does not support any theory linking vaccination to increased heart-related deaths, and speculative claims without solid evidence are “false and misleading.”
CM Siddaramaiah Flags Deaths in Hassan
The ministry’s clarification comes in response to recent remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who questioned whether the “hasty approval and distribution” of Covid vaccines could be behind a spate of heart attack deaths in Hassan district.
At least 22 people, including five aged between 19 and 25, reportedly died of heart attacks in the district in the past 40 days, many of them collapsing without warning at home or in public.
Siddaramaiah said an expert committee led by Dr Ravindranath of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences has also been asked to submit a report within 10 days.
