The issue of sudden, unexplained deaths has been thoroughly investigated by multiple agencies across India. These studies have consistently confirmed that there is no direct connection between COVID-19 vaccines and reports of sudden deaths in the country.

Research by both ICMR and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reaffirms that COVID-19 vaccines administered in India are safe and effective, with only extremely rare cases of serious adverse events. Sudden cardiac deaths can be attributed to various factors, including genetic predisposition, lifestyle habits, underlying medical conditions, and complications following COVID-19 infection.

In response to concerns regarding sudden deaths, particularly among young adults aged 18 to 45, ICMR and NCDC initiated two complementary studies using different research methodologies—one retrospective and the other prospective.

The first study, led by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), titled “Factors Associated with Unexplained Sudden Deaths Among Adults Aged 18–45 Years in India – A Multicentric Matched Case-Control Study”, was conducted between May and August 2023. It involved 47 tertiary care hospitals across 19 states and Union Territories and examined cases of seemingly healthy individuals who died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. The study’s findings clearly demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of sudden, unexplained deaths in young adults.

The second study, “Establishing the Cause of Sudden Unexplained Deaths in Young Adults”, is an ongoing prospective investigation led by AIIMS New Delhi, with support from ICMR. This study seeks to identify the primary causes of sudden deaths among young adults. Preliminary data reveal that heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) remain the leading cause of such deaths in this age group. Notably, there has been no significant shift in the causes of sudden deaths compared to previous years. In many cases, genetic mutations have emerged as potential contributors to these fatalities. The final results will be made public upon the study’s completion.

Together, these studies provide a comprehensive understanding of sudden unexplained deaths among young adults in India. Importantly, the research confirms that COVID-19 vaccination does not elevate the risk of such deaths. Instead, factors such as pre-existing health conditions, genetic vulnerabilities, and high-risk lifestyle choices are significant contributors.

Public health experts have repeatedly emphasized that claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to sudden deaths are unfounded and misleading, lacking any basis in scientific evidence. Spreading such misinformation risks eroding public trust in vaccines, which have been instrumental in saving millions of lives during the pandemic. Baseless speculation could fuel vaccine hesitancy, posing a serious threat to public health efforts.

The Government of India remains firmly committed to supporting evidence-based research to safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens.

With inputs from PIB