Following Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent remarks suggesting a possible link between COVID-19 vaccines and a rise in heart-related deaths in Hassan district, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) dismissed the claims, citing comprehensive studies that found no connection between vaccination and sudden deaths.

On Tuesday (July 1), Siddaramaiah had raised concerns about the “hasty approval and distribution” of COVID-19 vaccines, speculating that it might be a factor behind the recent fatalities. He also urged individuals experiencing symptoms like chest pain or difficulty breathing to seek immediate medical attention.

In response, the Health Ministry clarified that multiple investigations conducted by national health agencies, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have firmly concluded that there is no direct link between COVID-19 vaccines and sudden, unexplained deaths. The vaccines used in India are considered safe and effective, with serious adverse effects being extremely rare, the Ministry said.

It emphasized that sudden cardiac deaths can result from various causes, such as genetic factors, lifestyle issues, existing medical conditions, and complications following COVID-19 infection—not vaccination.

To better understand sudden unexplained deaths in adults aged 18 to 45, two studies were undertaken. The first, conducted by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), was a multi-centre case-control study across 47 tertiary hospitals in 19 states and union territories. It investigated sudden deaths among seemingly healthy individuals between October 2021 and March 2023 and found no increased risk associated with COVID-19 vaccination.

The second study, titled "Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young," is an ongoing prospective study led by AIIMS Delhi, in collaboration with ICMR. Preliminary results show that heart attacks remain the most common cause of sudden deaths in this age group. The data so far indicates no significant shifts in death patterns compared to earlier years, with many cases linked to underlying genetic mutations. Final findings are awaited.

Together, these studies offer a deeper understanding of sudden deaths among young adults in India and reinforce the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines. The Health Ministry warned that spreading speculative or unverified claims about vaccines could lead to public distrust and vaccine hesitancy, ultimately harming public health.

"Scientific experts have clearly stated that linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths is both misleading and unsupported by evidence," the Ministry stressed. Vaccines were instrumental in saving millions of lives during the pandemic, and efforts to discredit them threaten public confidence and safety.

Siddaramaiah had noted that over 20 people in Hassan district reportedly died from heart attacks in the past month alone. He said the government is treating the issue with urgency and has formed an expert committee, headed by Dr. Ravindranath of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, to investigate the matter and submit a report within 10 days.