Heart Attack Deaths in Hassan: CM Siddaramaiah forms expert group, suspects Covid vaccine
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced forming an expert committee headed by Dr Ravindranath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research to identify the cause of a series of deaths due to heart attack in Hassan district.In the past one month, heart attacks have claimed more than 20 people in Hassan district, the CM said and added that the committee will submit the report in 10 days.The government had asked the same committee in February to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the Covid-19 vaccines could have caused any adverse effect.'We value the lives of children, youth, and innocent people, and we share the concerns of their families,' the CM said in a statement.Siddaramaiah slammed the BJP for what he said, using the issue for political gains.Hasty approval and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that these vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks.Before the BJP criticizes us on this, they should ask their conscience, the CM said, while pledging his government's commitment to finding the true cause behind these sudden series of deaths in Hassan district and across the state. He said his government will act on the expert committee report and prevent cases of heart attack.He urged citizens to visit the nearest health center immediately for a check-up if any of them had symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing.
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Industry leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and Samir Mehta of Torrent Pharma also publicly backed vaccine safety and dismissed the unfounded claims. Top doctors from AIIMS and scientists at ICMR have taken to public platforms to bust myths and explain the science, stressing that panic must not replace facts. The Serum Institute of India (SII)—manufacturer of India's poster boy vaccine Covishield—also reaffirmed that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, scientifically validated, and critical in saving lives. Given that over 170 crore doses of Covishield have been administered out of the 200+ crore total vaccine doses in India, this clarification is not just welcome but vital. These clarifications were essential in addressing the growing public anxiety around sudden cardiac deaths, particularly among younger people. 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The age-standardised death rate globally is 233 deaths per 1,00,000, while for India it is 282 per 1,00,000. Yet, unfounded narratives continue to gain traction—some fuelled by misinformation, others by genuine grief seeking answers in a complex post-pandemic landscape. What the available evidence shows is that vaccines, by reducing the severity and spread of the virus, likely played a role in limiting long-term cardiovascular consequences. They weren't just about immediate survival—they bought us time and prevented the invisible wave of complications that continues to unfold. Even if science someday finds a small causal link between certain vaccines and rare cardiac events, we must remember: public health is about trade-offs. During a pandemic, decisions must be made under pressure, aiming to save as many lives as possible. Vaccines were not perfect and they were never claimed to be. What they were, and remain, is effective and life-saving on a population scale. It's also essential to acknowledge the wider ecosystem of risk: lockdown-induced sedentary lifestyles, elevated stress, mental health challenges, and delayed chronic care. And also, the genetic structure of Indians, which is vulnerable to metabolic resistance, hence, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases develop relatively easily. These all contribute to rising cardiac cases—and must be part of the conversation. Blaming vaccines alone oversimplifies a deeply layered issue. top videos View all In short, this is not a defence of pharmaceutical companies or vaccine makers who profited heavily during the pandemic, nor is it a dismissal of the real grief of those who lost loved ones. This is a call for nuance. We need to look at the full picture, not just one side of the story. Let's continue investigating, let's strengthen pharmacovigilance and monitoring across India. Remember, we are alive to debate the side effects because the vaccines worked. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : AIIMS COVID-19 vaccine covishield health matters Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw news18 specials Serum Institute of India Siddaramaiah Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 07, 2025, 10:00 IST News india If Vaccines Hadn't Saved Us From Covid-19, We Wouldn't Be Here To Question Heart Attacks
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