Indian researchers have dismissed claims linking COVID-19 vaccination to “unexplained sudden deaths,” stating that the evidence points to factors such as the disease itself, binge drinking, and intense exercise.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) initiated a study in response to “anecdotal reports about sudden unexplained deaths among apparently healthy adults” aged 18 to 45 from October 2021 to March 2023.
In a study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the research group stated, “We found no evidence of a positive association of COVID-19 vaccination with unexplained sudden death among young adults.” They identified family history of sudden death, hospitalization for COVID-19, recent binge drinking, and vigorous-intensity physical activity as risk factors for unexplained sudden death.
The ICMR researchers examined 29,171 sudden deaths, analyzing the records of 729 cases and 2,916 “control” subjects during their investigation.
Despite government data indicating 45 million COVID-19 infections and 533,295 related deaths in India, experts suggest that the actual numbers are considerably higher. The peak of the COVID-19 crisis in India saw numerous hospitals running out of beds, leading to many deaths occurring at home.