• Covid vaccine not responsible for sudden deaths among young adults in India: ICMR study

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    Covid vaccine not responsible for sudden deaths among young adults in India: ICMR study

    Amid reports of sudden deaths, including that of popular Malayalam TV actor Dr. Priya, the study aimed to...

    Digital Desk: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released a comprehensive study refuting claims that the COVID-19 vaccination is responsible for unexplained sudden deaths among young adults in India. The study, titled ‘Factors associated with sudden deaths among adults aged 18–45 years in India—a multicentric matched case-control study’  explored potential connections between sudden deaths and various factors.


    Amid reports of sudden deaths, including that of popular Malayalam TV actor Dr. Priya, the study aimed to address concerns about a potential link to either COVID-19 or the vaccination against the disease. The ICMR's findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination is not a contributing factor to these tragic incidents, and the likelihood of such fatalities may be reduced by administering at least one dose of the vaccine.


    The study, completed this month but yet to be officially released, examined cases of apparently healthy individuals aged 18–45 years with no underlying health issues who died suddenly from unexplained causes between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023. Certain risk factors associated with sudden deaths were identified, including a history of severe COVID-19 infection, binge drinking, and the use of recreational drugs or substances.


    Earlier, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya referenced the ICMR study, advising individuals who had experienced a severe bout of COVID-19 to avoid overexertion for a year or two to mitigate the risk of heart attacks and cardiac arrests.