India’s apex health agencies have found no scientific evidence linking COVID‑19 vaccination to the recent reports of sudden deaths among young adults, the Union Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.
A press statement said parallel investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) “have conclusively established that there is no direct link between COVID‑19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country.”
“Statements linking COVID‑19 vaccination to sudden deaths are false and misleading,” the release warned, adding that speculative claims “risk undermining public confidence in vaccines, which have saved millions of lives during the pandemic.”
What the studies found
- Multicentric case–control review (ICMR‑NIE).
Conducted from May–August 2023 across 47 tertiary hospitals in 19 States and Union Territories, the study examined apparently healthy adults aged 18–45 who died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. Researchers reported no increased risk of unexplained sudden death after vaccination.
- Prospective autopsy‑based probe (AIIMS–ICMR).
Also read: 23 heart attack deaths in 40 days in Hassan; vaccine link probed
The ongoing study, titled “Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young,” has so far shown that myocardial infarction remains the principal cause of such fatalities. Early analysis suggests genetic mutations and pre‑existing conditions—not vaccines—lie behind most unexplained cases. Final results will follow once data collection ends.
Together, the studies highlight the role of genetics, lifestyle and post‑infection complications in sudden cardiac events while confirming that India’s COVID‑19 vaccines remain safe and effective, with serious adverse reactions “extremely rare”.
Why it matters
Rumours tying vaccines to sudden deaths have fuelled online misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Health officials said the fresh evidence should reassure the public and reinforce India’s immunisation drive.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to “evidence‑based public‑health research to protect the well‑being of citizens” and urged media outlets to avoid amplifying unverified claims.
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