Did Sudden Deaths Increase Due to Health Issues, Not Covid Vaccine? Nadda Clarifies

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Covid-19 vaccination is not linked to sudden deaths.
- Underlying health conditions and genetics are critical factors.
- Heart attacks remain the leading cause of sudden death among young adults.
- Government data shows 164 Covid-related deaths in recent months.
- Covid cases have shown a recent increase but declined significantly.
New Delhi, July 25 (NationPress) Union Health Minister JP Nadda affirmed in Parliament on Friday that the Covid-19 vaccination has not raised the risk of sudden deaths. Speaking during the Monsoon session in the Lok Sabha, Nadda highlighted that underlying health conditions and genetic factors are significant contributors to the rise in unexplained deaths across the nation.
"Covid-19 vaccination does not seem to elevate the risk, while factors such as underlying health issues, genetic predisposition, and unhealthy lifestyle choices significantly influence cases of unexplained sudden deaths," remarked Nadda.
He referenced studies conducted by the ICMR and NCDC, along with research from ICMR and AIIMS, aimed at uncovering the causes behind these sudden deaths.
“The findings from these studies revealed that Covid-19 vaccination does not heighten the risk of sudden unexplained death among young adults in India. However, prior Covid-19 hospitalizations, a family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle choices have been linked to an increased risk of sudden unexplained deaths,” Nadda elaborated.
“Preliminary data from an AIIMS-led study suggests that heart attacks, or myocardial infarction (MI), remain the primary cause of sudden death in this demographic. Notably, there have been no significant changes in the pattern of causes when compared to the years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he continued.
In the meantime, the government reported to Parliament that Covid claimed 164 lives between April and July during the recent summer wave.
In a written statement in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav provided updates on the rise of Covid cases in the country over the last three months.
“There was a slight uptick in Covid-19 cases reported by States/UTs from late May 2025, followed by a significant decline since mid-June,” Jadhav stated.
“As of July 22, 164 deaths attributed to Covid-19 have been reported by States/UTs since April 1; most of these individuals had underlying health conditions,” he added.