NEW DELHI — Extensive studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and AIIMS have conclusively found no link between COVID-19 vaccination and the sudden cardiac deaths reported among adults in recent years, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Tuesday.
The findings come amid ongoing misinformation campaigns attempting to link COVID vaccines with an uptick in heart-related deaths.
“Scientific experts have reiterated that statements linking COVID vaccination to sudden deaths are false, misleading, and not supported by scientific consensus,” the Health Ministry stated.
Multiple Studies Confirm Vaccine Safety
The studies — conducted in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) — affirm that the COVID-19 vaccines administered in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare occurrences of serious side effects. Researchers investigated heart attack cases and sudden deaths post-COVID recovery, especially among young adults, to understand the underlying causes.
Their conclusion: No causative relationship exists between vaccination and unexpected fatalities.
What Causes Sudden Cardiac Death?
The ICMR-AIIMS findings highlight that sudden cardiac deaths can result from several factors such as:
- Genetic predisposition
- Lifestyle risks (e.g. smoking, poor diet, stress)
- Undiagnosed pre-existing cardiac conditions
- Post-COVID health complications, including myocarditis and other inflammation-related issues
Experts warn against drawing simplistic conclusions from isolated incidents, especially when scientific evaluations show no direct correlation to vaccination.
Fighting Vaccine Misinformation
The Ministry stressed the importance of trusting scientific research and public health institutions, especially in light of viral misinformation that has sown fear and skepticism among sections of the population.
India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive — among the largest in the world — has seen over 2 billion doses administered, and the rate of adverse events remains significantly low.
“We urge the public to rely on verified information from official sources and not be misled by unverified claims on social media,” the ministry said.
The findings aim to rebuild public confidence in vaccines and dispel myths that could undermine India’s immunization efforts.