Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, has raised doubts about whether there could be a link between these deaths and the Covid vaccine, adding that the vaccine may have been approved and rolled out too quickly.
He wrote on X, “Orders were given to this same committee back in February to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the Covid vaccines could have any adverse effects.”
“It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that Covid vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks,” he added.
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Health Ministry rejects links between Covid and cardiac arrests
On Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said there is no evidence to suggest that Covid vaccines are causing sudden deaths among adults.
Citing studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the ministry said the issue had been looked into by multiple agencies.
“The matter of sudden unexplained deaths has been investigated through several agencies in the country. These studies have conclusively established that there is no direct link between Covid 19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country," it said in a statement.Studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) affirm that Covid-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects. Sudden cardiac deaths can result from a wide range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, and post-Covid complications," the press release said
The spike in heart-related deaths has left doctors and health experts worried across different age groups.
Did the Covid vaccine play a role in the recent heart attack deaths? The expert panel’s findings are expected to give some answers soon.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has now set up a team of experts, led by Dr Ravindranath from the Jayadeva Institute, to find out what is behind the spike. The panel has been asked to give its report in 10 days.