Overview

• The Union Health Ministry citing ICMR and AIIMS studies has affirmed no causal connection between COVID-19 vaccines and the more than 20 sudden heart-attack deaths reported in Hassan district.
• AIIMS doctors and an NCDC-backed analysis attributed sudden cardiac fatalities to underlying conditions, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions rather than vaccination.
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and the Serum Institute of India have both reiterated that vaccines met rigorous Emergency Use Authorization protocols and remain safe and effective.
• The Karnataka government has convened an expert committee led by Dr Ravindranath of Jayadeva Institute to investigate the deaths, with a report due within ten days.
• Public health leaders warn that unsubstantiated claims linking vaccines to deaths risk undermining confidence in mass immunization efforts.