In a recent statement, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed concerns regarding the alleged association between Covid vaccines and heart attacks. He emphasized that a comprehensive study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) negates any correlation between the two.
Speaking at 'ANI Dialogues - Navigating India’s Health Sector,' Mandaviya asserted that individual lifestyle choices and factors such as binge drinking might contribute to heart attacks, challenging misconceptions surrounding vaccine safety. He highlighted the Modi government's commitment to providing affordable healthcare, adopting a holistic approach.
Mandaviya underscored India's remarkable efforts in supplying Covid vaccines to approximately 150 countries worldwide, fostering significant goodwill. Responding to attempts to create misconceptions about Covid vaccines, he urged decisions to be grounded in data and scientific research.
The ICMR study, published in November last year, revealed that Covid vaccines did not elevate the risk of sudden death among young adults in India. Instead, post-Covid hospitalization, family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle behaviors were identified as potential underlying causes.
The peer-reviewed study involved 47 tertiary care hospitals across India, examining apparently healthy individuals aged 18 to 45 who experienced unexplained sudden death between October 2021 and March 2023. Lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol use frequency, binge drinking, and vigorous-intensity physical activity, were associated with unexplained sudden death.
Mandaviya stressed the government's decision-making process, asserting that vaccination strategies are based on expert advice and scientific evidence. He recalled the swift rollout of Covid vaccines in India, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's determination. The Prime Minister's commitment extended to ensuring resources were not a constraint in vaccine development and advocating for global vaccine distribution.
Mandaviya addressed earlier attempts to create skepticism about vaccine efficacy, clarifying that PM Modi received the vaccine in the third category, as he falls under the 60-year-old age group without comorbidities.
The Health Minister's remarks aim to dispel misinformation and reinforce the government's commitment to evidence-based decision-making in navigating India's health sector amid the ongoing pandemic.