Authorities in Karnataka have opened an investigation into an unusual spike in cardiac deaths in Hassan district, where roughly 23 people—many of them under the age of 40—have died of suspected heart attacks in the 40 days to 1 July. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked an expert panel led by Dr. Ravindranath, director of the state-run Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research, to submit its findings within ten days.
While announcing the probe, Siddaramaiah suggested the fatalities could be related to adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination, a comment that triggered a political backlash and concern about possible vaccine hesitancy. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party accused the chief minister of spreading misinformation, and industry leaders such as Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw rejected the claim as "factually incorrect."
India’s Union Health Ministry sought to quell the controversy on 2 July, citing two large-scale studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the National Centre for Disease Control and AIIMS-Delhi that found no correlation between COVID-19 shots and sudden cardiac deaths among adults aged 18-45. The studies instead flagged genetics, lifestyle factors, pre-existing conditions and the severity of prior COVID-19 illness as primary risks. Former AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria and other specialists echoed the ministry’s view, noting that vaccination was shown to reduce, not raise, overall mortality.
The committee’s report is expected to clarify whether Hassan’s pattern represents a localized public-health issue or a statistical outlier in a country where cardiovascular disease already accounts for more than a quarter of all deaths. State and federal officials have urged residents to await the panel’s findings and continue routine cardiac check-ups while maintaining confidence in the national immunization programme.
To my illiterate ex colleagues: These findings suggest a link between vaccination & cardiovascular events and highlight the importance of considering individual health profiles in evaluating vaccine safety, cardiovascular health, and hepatic implications.
