Makers of Covishield have defended the vaccine, saying the jabs are completely safe and do not cause heart attacks
Makers of Covishield have defended the vaccine, saying the jabs are completely safe and do not cause heart attacks, after Karnataka's chief minister ordered a probe to investigate the cause behind the death of 23 people in 40 days across the state.
The Serum Institute of India, manufacturer of Covishield, has reaffirmed the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, citing recent government-backed studies that found no link between vaccination and cardiac fatalities. "The vaccines are safe and scientifically validated," the Covishield maker said, echoing the Indian Health Ministry's findings based on research by ICMR and AIIMS.
According to news reports, sudden heart attack-related deaths have gone up alarmingly in the state’s Hassan district in the last few days. Among the dead were a 50-year-old woman who collapsed after feeling fatigued, a 58-year-old college lecturer who died while drinking tea, a 57-year-old worker who passed away after being hospitalised for chest pain, and a 63-year-old man who collapsed after chest discomfort.
Earlier this week, a 27-year-old carpenter also died of similar symptoms.
State authorities said they were alarmed that the deaths are not confined to the older population, as six of the fatalities have been between 19 and 25 years old, while eight were between 25 and 45 years old. The remaining victims were between 45 and 60, and some were above 60 years of age.
Centre says research validates vaccine safety
Earlier this week, the Union health ministry issued a detailed rebuttal to claims that COVID-19 vaccines might be associated with sudden deaths. "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.
The ministry cited two major investigations. The first, conducted by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology, involved 47 tertiary care hospitals across 19 states and Union Territories. Titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18–45 years in India—A multicentric matched case–control study”, it found that Covid vaccination did not increase the risk of sudden death in young adults.
The second study, led by AIIMS Delhi in collaboration with ICMR, is ongoing and focuses on real-time causes of sudden deaths in young individuals. Early findings show that heart attacks—specifically myocardial infarction—remain the primary cause of such deaths, with no new pattern emerging post-vaccination. The report also notes that in many cases, genetic mutations were found to be a likely contributor.
According to the study, the risk of sudden cardiac deaths depends on various factors, which include genetics, pre-existing conditions, lifestyle, and post-COVID-19 complications, and not vaccination. "Scientific experts have reiterated that statements linking COVID vaccination to sudden deaths are false and misleadiand are not supported by scientific consensus," the Health Ministry said.
