It's wrong to blame Covid jabs for cardiac arrests: Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Bengaluru: Days after chief minister Siddaramaiah blamed Covid-19 vaccines for the alarming rise in cardiac arrest cases among youngsters in the recent weeks, especially in Hassan district , Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said Thursday his comments were "factually incorrect" and would contribute to "public misinformation".

With close to 25 deaths due to cardiac arrests in Hassan alone in the last 40 days, Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday the "hasty approval and distribution of Covid vaccines" could also be a reason for the fatalities.

Mazumdar-Shaw, however, wrote on X: "Covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the emergency use authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with the global standards for safety and efficacy."

Responding to the CM's comment, she said, "To suggest that these vaccines were hastily approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation."

Mazumdar-Shaw added, "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."

As the cardiac arrest-linked casualties in Hassan district snowballed into a major controversy, the CM commented, "The state govt has taken the matter seriously and an expert committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Dr Ravindranath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, to ascertain the exact cause of these deaths and to find solutions. The committee has been instructed to submit a report within 10 days."

The same committee in Feb 2025 was also tasked with conducting a thorough study on reasons behind sudden deaths of youngsters in Karnataka and exploring whether these fatalities were triggered by the Covid vaccines. Mazumdar-Shaw commented, "Heart attacks being linked to Covid vaccines even after four years does not stack up. There are many other reasons, including performance-enhancing drugs, excessive exercise routines, etc."