Hassan's 23 heart attack deaths in 40 days: Is the Covid vaccine behind the sudden deaths in Karnataka?
Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru has seen an 8% jump in heart patients in two weeks. Most arrive from Hassan and nearby areas. District Health data shows 507 heart attacks were recorded in Hassan in two years. Of these, 190 people could not be saved.
CM points finger at Covid vaccine
The sharp rise has pushed the Karnataka government into action. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has formed a special committee.
Dr Ravindranath
, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, will lead it. The panel must submit its findings in ten days.
But Siddaramaiah stirred debate by pointing at Covid jabs. On X, he wrote, 'Orders were given to this same committee back in February to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the Covid vaccines could have any adverse effects.'
He added, 'It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that Covid vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks.'
Live Events
Health Minister asks public not to panic
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao urged people to stay calm while the probe continues. He told News18, 'Once we get the report, we will be able to speak with greater clarity. These are matters that must be properly investigated. Speculation at this stage could cause unnecessary alarm.'
Centre stands firm on vaccine safety
The Union Health Ministry stepped in quickly. It said on Tuesday there is no evidence to back claims that Covid vaccines cause sudden deaths. It pointed to studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). In its statement, the ministry said, '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.'
Two major studies say no link
ICMR ran a nationwide study from May to August 2023. It checked cases in 47 hospitals across 19 states and union territories. Researchers tracked sudden deaths of healthy-looking young adults from October 2021 to March 2023. They found no rise due to vaccines.
AIIMS, New Delhi, with ICMR's support, is conducting another study. Early results show the leading cause remains heart attacks and other health conditions, not vaccines. The ministry stressed, 'Studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) affirm that Covid-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects. Sudden cardiac deaths can result from a wide range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, and post-Covid complications.'
Experts warn against vaccine fear
The Health Ministry warned, 'Spreading such claims without proper evidence is harmful. Vaccines saved millions of lives during the pandemic. Such false claims can damage trust in vaccines.'
Medical experts too say panic over vaccines could stop people from getting important shots.
Doctors say lifestyle plays a big role. Many young professionals work long hours with little rest. The issue is bigger than Hassan. For example, Infosys recently warned staff against working more than 9 hours and 15 minutes a day for five days a week. The IT giant's note counters co-founder Narayana Murthy's controversial pitch for a 70-hour work week. The company wants staff to avoid burnout, as long hours can silently raise heart risks.
Back in Hassan, families wait for clarity. The expert panel will file its report within days. Until then, doctors ask people to watch for chest pain, breathlessness, or sudden fatigue. Siddaramaiah posted, '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.'
Hassan watches. So does the rest of Karnataka.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
No evidence that COVID-19 vaccination is causing sudden deaths in young people: AIIMS doctors
No direct link has been established between COVID-19 vaccination and reports of sudden deaths in young people, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, said on Thursday (July 3, 2025). Countering Karnataka Chief Minister's Siddaramaiah's remark that sudden deaths could be linked to the COVID-19 vaccination, the doctors cited studies. The press conference by the AIIMS Delhi doctors comes a day after the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that studies had conclusively established there was no direct link between COVID-19 vaccination and reports of sudden deaths. R. Narang, Professor, Cardiology AIIMS Delhi, highlighted the importance of studying the cause of sudden deaths in young people. 'We know from past studies that sudden [cardiac] arrests in young people versus those in older people have different causes. There are two major causes among sudden arrests in young people — the first is rhythm issues, which lead to irregular heartbeat; and the second is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where the muscle thickens. This is common among young athletes,' Dr. Narang said. In older people, the most common cause of sudden heart attacks is blood clots in the coronary arteries, with the flow of blood to the heart muscle blocked, Dr. Narang added. 'Why such sudden deaths are reported more now could have other causes that are not related to health. One possible reason is that after COVID-19, there has been more focus on health, and an increase in the use of social media channels, such as WhatsApp, where messages spread widely and become viral quickly,' he said in response to questions from the media. 'There is no conclusive evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine is causing sudden cardiac arrests. In fact, vaccines have proven to be more beneficial by reducing the severity of infections and associated complications,' Dr. Narang said. The interim project report of an ongoing study titled 'The burden of sudden death in young: A year's snapshot of a single centre in India', being conducted by AIIMS doctors and funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which studied 2,214 deaths, found that 180 (8.1%) were sudden deaths, of which 57.2% were cases of sudden deaths in the young (SDY). Causes related to the cardiovascular system (CVS) causes constituted the most SDY (42.6%), followed by respiratory causes (21.3%). While the study is ongoing and will take a year to complete, the researchers had not found any link to COVID-19 vaccination, and all possible causes were being studied, Sudheer Arava, one of the professors conducting the study, said. The AIIMS Delhi doctors also cited another ICMR study titled 'Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India: A multicentric matched case-control study', which finds that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India. 'Past COVID-19 hospitalisation, family history of sudden death and certain lifestyle behaviours increased the likelihood of unexplained sudden death,' the ICMR study said.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'I've A Duty...': Siddaramaiah Reacts To Biocon's Kiran, Repeats Claim On Vaccine-Heart Attack Link
Last Updated: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah questioned Covid-19 vaccine safety, while Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw defended it. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday reacted to Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw after she dismissed the former's claim over Covid-19 vaccination and its link to heart attack deaths in Hassan. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said seeking clarity is not 'misinformation" and called an 'act of governance rooted in empathy". He also shared that an article in the Telegraph, where 'AstraZeneca admitted side effects of vaccine," and said that several studies and even admissions by manufacturers have acknowledged rare but serious adverse events, including cardiac issues. As Chief Minister, I have a duty to respond to the genuine concerns of people who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. When parents lose their young children or families lose breadwinners without warning, seeking clarity is not misinformation; it is an act of governance rooted in… — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 3, 2025 Siddaramaiah's concerns have also been dismissed by several top health experts in the country. The Biocon founder objected to Siddaramaiah's claim that Covid-19 vaccines were 'hastily" approved and said rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy were followed. 'COVID-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation. These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals. It is important to acknowledge the science and data-driven processes behind their development, rather than engage in retrospective blame," she wrote in a post on X. Meanwhile, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said that factors such as a family history of heart disease, severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalisation, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption could increase heart risk — and cautioned against believing in unfounded theories. He said Covid vaccines were tested after systematic laboratory studies, animal toxicity studies and clinical studies and they fulfill scientific and all regulatory and benchmark criteria. 'The notion of sudden deaths linked to the vaccines has been making rounds and to address it systematically, a study was commissioned by the ICMR… published in 2023 and conducted in 47 hospital sites… More than 700 young individuals who suffered sudden deaths were included… What emerged was that Covid vaccine was actually protective against sudden deaths, decreasing its risk… What was responsible for sudden death was – if the individual had a genetic tendency due to family history of heart ailments, if one had suffered more severe Covid-19 illness that required hospitalisation, smoking, and those who had consumed excess alcohol… Let's not be prey to unfounded notions," he said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
No Clear Link Between Covid Vaccine And Sudden Cardiac Arrest Deaths: Delhi AIIMS
New Delhi: A day after the Indian Council of Medical Research debunked claims of the Corona vaccine being responsible for the rising death cases among the youth, a panel of expert doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences addressed the issue. According to Associate Professor Dr Karan Madan, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS Delhi, a study was conducted on sudden cardiac arrests to review the COVID-19 vaccines used so far, following which "no clear association was found with sudden cardiac deaths." Dr Madan mentioned that COVID vaccines were effective and they played a crucial role in reducing the mortality of the Coronavirus. He stated that during any pandemic, vaccines are the only possible measures to save lives and the benefits provided by them are immense. "COVID vaccines were effective vaccines and they played a crucial role in reducing the mortality. During the pandemic, vaccines are the only possible measure to save lives. Vaccines were used on a large number of people, and they provided a lot of benefits in preventing excess mortality. The benefits provided by the vaccines are immense. A study was done on sudden cardiac deaths to review the vaccines used so far, but no clear association was found with sudden cardiac deaths", Dr Karan Madan said during the press briefing. Meanwhile, another expert doctor from the panel, Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, informed that the efficacy of the Covishield vaccine is 62.1. He noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved 12 vaccines out of which the majority were made from different technologies. He mentioned that Covishield uses a vector that is an "adenovirus". Dr Rai asserted that more than 13 billion doses have already been administered worldwide. There are countries like the US, which have just completed the fourth dose. "The Covishield vaccine efficacy was there are 37 vaccines already approved by various regulatory authorities. The WHO has approved around 12 vaccines, and the majority of these vaccines are based on different technologies. If you see Covaxin, it's an old uses a vector that is an other vaccine, Sputnik, almost the same than 13 billion doses have already been administered all over the world. There are countries like, the US, they have just completed fourth dose. The WHO is also recommending that everybody six months and above must get vaccine with the newer variant", Dr Rai said.
