A state-appointed expert committee in Karnataka has found no evidence linking Covid-19 infection or vaccination to the recent spike in sudden cardiovascular events among young adults, countering growing public speculation and political controversy over vaccine safety.
The committee aimed to investigate the causes behind a perceived rise in sudden cardiac events, particularly among the youth, conducted an observational study at Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru.
The findings submitted to the state government on July 2 noted that it did not find any link between premature cardiovascular disease and a prior history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
The study noted that conventional risk factors like smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure remain common among most individuals experiencing sudden cardiac events.
It also observed a spike in such incidents shortly after COVID-19 infections, attributing it to a temporary "pro-inflammatory state," but clarified that this effect does not persist beyond 12 months.
Further, the report highlighted that international studies have similarly failed to establish a causal link between Covid vaccination and sudden cardiac deaths. On the contrary, long-term data indicates that the vaccines have offered protective benefits against heart-related complications.
The findings came two days after a controversy sparked by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who claimed without scientific backing that over 20 sudden deaths in Hassan district might be tied to Covid vaccines. “The hasty approval and distribution of Covid vaccines could also be a reason for these deaths,” he wrote in a social media post last week.
His comments drew sharp criticism from Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who called the remarks “factually incorrect” and warned that they could “spread misinformation.”
Shaw reminded that vaccines were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) framework, following “rigorous global protocols.” She added, "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."
The Union Health Ministry also pushed back on the Chief Minister’s remarks, citing studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which found “no significant change in sudden cardiac death patterns” post-vaccine rollout.
Dr Manoj Murhekar, Director of ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology, clarified, “We studied 800 cases across 50 hospitals. No link was found between vaccination and sudden deaths.”
Despite mounting rebuttals, Siddaramaiah doubled down. “Scientific caution is not anti-science,” he said. "Many peer-reviewed studies... have discussed myocarditis and cardiac arrest risk, particularly among young adults post-vaccination. Publicly-funded stakeholders must acknowledge both the benefits and the potential risks without fear or favour," he said.
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