Extensive investigations by Indian health authorities have conclusively established that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with sudden unexplained deaths in adults. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, independent studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Centre for Disease Control have confirmed that vaccines administered in India are both safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of severe adverse events.
The focus of the research was on sudden cardiac deaths among apparently healthy individuals aged 18 to 45. The first study, a retrospective matched case-control study titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18–45 years in India”, was conducted from May to August 2023 across 47 tertiary hospitals in 19 states and Union Territories. The analysis of fatalities occurring between October 2021 and March 2023 demonstrated that there was no increase in the risk of sudden death attributable to COVID-19 vaccination.
A second study, still underway at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi with support from ICMR, is prospectively investigating the causes of sudden deaths among young adults. Preliminary findings reveal that heart attacks or myocardial infarctions continue to be the leading cause of sudden deaths in this age group. Importantly, the study has not observed any deviation from historical cause-of-death patterns. A substantial number of these cases were found to be linked to genetic mutations, suggesting inherited risk factors rather than vaccine impact. Final results from this prospective study will be shared upon its completion.
Together, the two studies offer a comprehensive national dataset clarifying that sudden deaths among young adults are more likely caused by existing medical conditions, genetic predispositions or risky lifestyles, rather than by vaccination. Officials stressed that speculative claims connecting vaccination to such fatalities are not backed by scientific evidence and pose a risk to public health by fostering vaccine hesitancy.
Experts involved in the research have urged citizens to rely on verified data rather than misinformation. The government reaffirmed its commitment to evidence-based public health policymaking and ongoing research to safeguard the health and well-being of all Indians.
