Baseless claims linking Covid vaccines to sudden deaths can hamper vaccination programmes: Director, National Institute of Epidemiology

COVID-19 vaccinations did not increase the risk of unexplained, sudden deaths among young adults, Manoj V. Murhekar, Director, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), told The Hindu on Wednesday (July 2, 2025). The institute’s research has indicated other contributing factors, including genetic make-up, binge drinking, COVID-19 hospitalisation, and vigorous intensity of physical activity, he said.

“Past COVID hospitalisation, a family history of sudden deaths, and certain lifestyle behaviours increased the likelihood of sudden deaths [in young adults],” Dr. Murhekar said. Research, he pointed out, had in fact, revealed positive effects of vaccinations.

Dr. Murhekar’s remarks come in the backdrop of mounting public anxiety following a reported surge in heart attack deaths in Hassan district, Karnataka. Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, has said there was no specific pattern or data suggesting a spike in heart attack deaths in any particular region. However, as a precautionary measure, a committee was set up to examine the deaths.

Subsequently, the Union Health Ministry issued a statement stating that there was no direct link between COVID-19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country, and that this had been conclusively established following investigation of these cases through several agencies. 

‘No booster dose for Covid-19 needed’

There was no urgency or need for the reintroduction of the COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose now, Dr. Murhekar said. “As of now, we aren’t seeing any major spikes in COVID cases, and there are no trends indicating the need for booster doses. We also know that newer variants are escaping vaccination cover, so we need not rush to get doses as of now,” he said.

The baseless linking of COVID-19 vaccinations to sudden deaths could hamper vaccination programmes for other diseases, he cautioned. “It is easy to blame vaccination without any scientific basis but the negative impact it has on the overall acceptance and adherence to vaccination trial participations and use, suffers,” Dr. Murhekar warned.