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Pharma industry rebuts Siddaramaiah's claims on Covid vax, heart attacks
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Anjali Singh
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The Indian pharmaceutical sector strongly rejects Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's claims that sudden deaths in Hassan district could be linked to Covid vaccines, calling the statements 'misinformed' and harmful to public trust.
A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah linked sudden deaths in the Hassan district to potential side effects of Covid-19 vaccines, the Indian pharmaceutical industry and scientific community strongly countered the claims, calling them 'misinformed' and 'damaging to public trust.'
In a post on the social media platform X on July 1, Siddaramaiah stated that more than 20 people had died of heart attacks in Hassan district within a
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Time of India
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- Time of India
It's wrong to blame Covid jabs for cardiac arrests: Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Bengaluru: Days after chief minister Siddaramaiah blamed Covid-19 vaccines for the alarming rise in cardiac arrest cases among youngsters in the recent weeks, especially in Hassan district, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said Thursday his comments were "factually incorrect" and would contribute to "public misinformation". With close to 25 deaths due to cardiac arrests in Hassan alone in the last 40 days, Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday the "hasty approval and distribution of Covid vaccines" could also be a reason for the fatalities. Mazumdar-Shaw, however, wrote on X: "Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the emergency use authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with the global standards for safety and efficacy." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Responding to the CM's comment, she said, "To suggest that these vaccines were hastily approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation." Mazumdar-Shaw added, "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." As the cardiac arrest-linked casualties in Hassan district snowballed into a major controversy, the CM commented, "The state govt has taken the matter seriously and an expert committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Dr Ravindranath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, to ascertain the exact cause of these deaths and to find solutions. The committee has been instructed to submit a report within 10 days. " The same committee in Feb 2025 was also tasked with conducting a thorough study on reasons behind sudden deaths of youngsters in Karnataka and exploring whether these fatalities were triggered by the Covid vaccines. Mazumdar-Shaw commented, "Heart attacks being linked to Covid vaccines even after four years does not stack up. There are many other reasons, including performance-enhancing drugs, excessive exercise routines, etc. "
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Doctors, experts back govt stand on safety of Covid-19 vaccines
NEW DELHI: Top doctors, industry experts and pharma promoters have joined the Union govt in denying any potential link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden deaths in the country, days after Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that hasty approval and administration of Covid vaccines could be the reason behind such incidents. Dr Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS Delhi, said there is no evidence of a link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden heart attacks. Siddaramaiah's remarks came in the wake of a spate of sudden cardiac deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district in recent weeks. Pharma promoters who compete fiercely in the market all rallied behind domestically manufactured vaccines, including those for Covid-19 and polio. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said such claims are "factually incorrect" and "misleading". "Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under 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," Shaw said on social media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like La rutina de abs que necesitas [Descubre] VIDA FIT Leer más Undo She added: "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". Satish Reddy, chairman of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Dilip Shanghvi, promoter and CMD of Sun Pharma, Pankaj Patel, chairman and promoter of Zydus Lifesciences, and Torrent Pharma chairman Samir Mehta - industry leaders known for their media reticence - each took to social media platforms to endorse India-made vaccines. "They helped end polio and fight Covid. At a time when India is seen as a vaccine leader, let's build trust in science, not doubt it. Public health must stay above politics," Reddy said in a post on X. Patel said on X that there are "other multiple reasons, like age, environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle, etc, that could be the leading cause of heart attacks in people. Several scientific studies globally and in India have conclusively shown that the risk of heart attack or myocarditis is greater after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has been proven beyond doubt that vaccination remains the most effective and preventive healthcare strategy to reduce deaths and disabilities". Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), without naming Siddaramaiah, said, "Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally".
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