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COVID-19 vaccines well-documented, rigorously tested as per regulatory processes: IPA

COVID-19 vaccines well-documented, rigorously tested as per regulatory processes: IPA

Time of India20 hours ago
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) refuted claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to heart attack deaths, emphasizing their rigorous testing and crucial role in combating the pandemic. IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain highlighted the Indian pharmaceutical industry's knowledge-driven nature and its significant contribution to global vaccine production, accounting for 60% of the world's supply.
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New Delhi: Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance on Thursday asserted that COVID-19 vaccines have been well-documented and rigorously tested according to regulatory standards, playing a crucial role in combating the pandemic.Without naming Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah , who linked COVID-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said, "Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally"."During the COVID pandemic, vaccines played a crucial role, and India consistently supplied medicines and vaccines across the world. These vaccines have been well documented and rigorously tested as per regulatory processes," IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said in a statement.Jain asserted that the Indian pharmaceutical industry is a knowledge-driven sector and plays a vital role in global health."India accounts for 60 per cent of global vaccine production ," he noted.IPA's statement comes in the wake of Siddaramaiah suggesting that the recent heart attack deaths in Hassan district may be linked to the vaccination drive. He had also claimed the vaccines were 'hastily' approved.Earlier in the day, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw had also opposed Siddaramaiah's remarks, saying such claims are "factually incorrect" and "misleading".
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Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Thursday (July 3, 2025) opposed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks linking Covid-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, saying such claims are 'factually incorrect' and 'misleading'. Siddaramaiah had suggested that the recent heart attack deaths in Hassan district may be linked to the vaccination drive. He had also claimed the vaccines were 'hastily' approved. COVID-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to… — Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 3, 2025 In a social media post, Shaw said 'Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation.' "These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals. It is important to acknowledge the science and data-driven processes behind their development, rather than engage in retrospective blame," Shaw, Executive Chairperson of the pharma company, said. 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"When I said 'hastily', it reflects the unprecedented speed of emergency rollouts globally without complete long-term data, acknowledged even by WHO and global regulatory agencies, who termed it a 'calculated risk' during a pandemic. Haste is not a sin when saving lives, but acknowledging potential unintended consequences is wisdom. Seeking answers is not retrospective blame. It is the duty of a government that values every life," the CM said. As Chief Minister, I have a duty to respond to the genuine concerns of people who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. When parents lose their young children or families lose breadwinners without warning, seeking clarity is not misinformation; it is an act of governance rooted in… — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 3, 2025 Replying to his post again, Ms. Shaw said that while she concurs with the CM about asking questions and seeking answers in science, she clarified that her comments were related to whether Covid vaccines were approved in haste. 'My response was that due process was followed as prescribed by WHO for safety n efficacy for EUA. Losing lives in a sudden manner is always tragic n I am glad an investigation is being conducted in Hassan District (sic),' she said. CM's statement The Chief Minister had said on July 1 that over 20 people had died of heart attack in Hassan district in the past month alone, and that the state government was taking the matter seriously. He announced the formation of an expert committee led by Dr. Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, to investigate the deaths. The committee has been instructed to submit its report within ten days. The CM said a similar directive had been issued in February to study sudden deaths among young people across the state and whether Covid-19 vaccines could have had any adverse effects. "It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that covid vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks," Siddaramaiah had said. Union Health Ministry's clarification On Wednesday (July 2), the Union Health Ministry had dismissed the CM's statement, saying extensive studies by ICMR and AIIMS have conclusively established no linkages between coronavirus vaccines and sudden deaths. Studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) affirm that Covid-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects, it said. Sudden cardiac deaths can result from a wide range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, and post-covid complications, the ministry had said in a statement.

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