Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw refutes Karnataka CM’s claim linking Covid vaccines to heart attacks

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has strongly countered Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent comments suggesting a possible link between COVID-19 vaccines and a spike in heart attack-related deaths in Hassan district.

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Siddaramaiah had earlier claimed that the “hasty approval and distribution” of COVID-19 vaccines could be a contributing factor to at least 18 sudden cardiac deaths reported in Hassan over the past month. “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,” he stated.

Responding to his remarks in a post on X, Shaw said the chief minister’s statements were “factually incorrect” and could contribute to public misinformation. She added, “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.”

“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,” she said.

Shaw’s statement came a day after the Union Health Ministry also dismissed the CM’s remarks, citing ICMR studies that found no evidence directly linking COVID-19 vaccines to sudden cardiac deaths. The ministry reaffirmed the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness.