A day after the Karnataka government formed a committee to probe a “series of deaths” due to heart attacks in Hassan district, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday suggested the “hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine could also be a reason for these deaths”.
In a post on X, he wrote that more than 20 people had died of heart attacks in the past one month alone. “To identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been formed under the leadership of Dr Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and they have been instructed to submit a study report within 10 days,” he said.
An order was issued earlier also, in February, “to conduct a thorough study on the reasons behind sudden deaths among young people in the state, and whether the COVID vaccines could have any adverse effects”.
The process of examining and analysing heart patients is underway, Siddaramaiah said.
“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 wrote in the post.
The chief minister further said the government was making every possible effort to protect people’s health. “I urge everyone to visit the nearest health center immediately for a check-up if you have symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing. Do not ignore these signs,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also accused BJP leaders of using the heart attack deaths for political gain.