NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns on social media over a possible link between the Covid vaccine and the recent spike in sudden cardiac deaths, authorities have issued a clear clarification on the matter.
In a public statement, India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that a large-scale study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has found no link between the COVID-19 vaccine and sudden cardiac deaths in adults.
The large-scale study by the ICMR and AIIMS has conclusively found no link between Covid vaccination and sudden cardiac deaths, it added, adding that the vaccines used in India have been found to be safe and effective, with only very rare cases of serious side effects.
The ministry further cited findings from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which also confirmed that vaccines do not contribute to heart-related complications. Experts instead point to other underlying factors—including genetics, pre-existing health conditions, lifestyle choices, and post-COVID complications—as more likely causes of sudden cardiac arrest.
Viral stories shared with claims of sudden deaths from COVID-19 vaccines are misleading and not supported by data.
The debate follows the sudden death of actress Shefali Jariwala, who died of a heart attack at the age of 42. Doctors have attributed her death to a sudden drop in blood pressure, and police have ruled out any foul play.
Shefali is one of several public figures to have suffered a heart attack at a relatively young age after COVID. The death of popular actor Sidharth Shukla under similar circumstances also sparked speculation, although no official findings have linked his death to the vaccine.
