Covid jabs didn't cause sudden deaths in young adults: Study

Covid-19 vaccines did not increase the risk of sudden death among young adults in India, according to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, which added that the spate of sudden deaths reported post Covid among young adults in India can be attributed to past-Covid hospitalisation, family history of sudden deaths, binge drinking, and intense unaccustomed activity.

- Rhythma Kaul

 

The peer-reviewed study titled ‘Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India – a multicentric matched case-control study’ involved the participation of 47 tertiary care hospitals across the country. The results have been published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research. Anecdotal reports of deaths in among people – including some famous ones – had given rise to a narrative that vaccines were somehow responsible.

“These deaths raised concerns that these cases might be related to Covid-19 infection, or Covid vaccination. The study was conducted to investigate the contributing factors,” said ICMR in a statement.

Seven hundred twenty nine cases and 2,916 others (the control group) were included in the analysis. Cases were hospitalised individuals aged 18-45 years without any known co-morbidity, who suddenly – within 24 hours of hospitalization – died of unexplained causes between October 2021 and March 2023.