A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested that sudden heart-related deaths in Hassan district could be linked to the Covid vaccine, the Union Health Ministry has clearly said there is no such connection.
On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said the “hasty approval and distribution” of the COVID-19 vaccine might have played a role in these deaths. He urged people to visit health centres if they had chest pain or difficulty breathing, and not ignore these symptoms.
In response, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday that several detailed studies by top health agencies have shown no link between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden deaths.
“Studies by ICMR and AIIMS have clearly shown that the COVID-19 vaccine is not responsible for sudden unexplained deaths,” the ministry said in a statement.
What the studies found
The government said that sudden deaths, especially in young adults aged 18 to 45, have been closely studied in recent years. Two major studies were launched to understand the reasons behind these deaths.
The first study was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) through its National Institute of Epidemiology. It took place from May to August 2023 in 47 major hospitals across 19 states and union territories.
This study looked at people who appeared healthy but died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. The findings showed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of sudden death in young adults.
The second study is being done by AIIMS, New Delhi, with support from ICMR. This study is still ongoing and focuses on finding the main causes behind sudden deaths in young adults. Early results show that heart attacks (myocardial infarction) are still the leading cause of sudden death in this age group.
The Health Ministry said that when they compared current data with past years, there was no major change in the causes of sudden deaths. In many cases, genetic health problems were found to be one of the reasons. The full results will be released once the AIIMS study is complete.
“These studies clearly show that the COVID-19 vaccine does not raise the risk of sudden death. Instead, existing health conditions, genetic issues, and lifestyle choices play a bigger role,” the ministry said.
Experts warn against spreading fear
The ministry also warned that linking the COVID-19 vaccine to sudden deaths without proof can cause vaccine fear among the public. This could lead to more people refusing vaccines, which can be dangerous for public health.
“Spreading such claims without proper evidence is harmful. Vaccines saved millions of lives during the pandemic. Such false claims can damage trust in vaccines,” the ministry said.
Experts have repeatedly stated that there is no scientific proof that Covid vaccines are linked to sudden deaths. In fact, they say making such statements without proper data is misleading and dangerous.
The government said it is committed to scientific research and will continue to study health issues through trusted institutions like ICMR and AIIMS to keep the public safe.
What happened in Hassan?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier said that over 20 people had died of heart attacks in Hassan district in just the past month. He said this sudden increase in deaths is worrying, and the government is taking it seriously.
“We have formed a committee led by Dr Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research. They have been asked to study the situation and give a report within 10 days,” Siddaramaiah said in a post on X.
He said the government wants to find out the real cause of these deaths and take proper steps to prevent more cases.
(With inputs from PTI)
