Lok Sabha Question No. 1118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Covid-19 Vaccination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Mohibbullah

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH JULY 2025

## COVID-19 VACCINATION

## 1118. SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government acknowledge public concerns over sudden deaths due to COVID-19 vaccination in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken/purposed to be taken by the Government to address misinformation in this regard;
- (c) the key findings of the studies conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on sudden unexplained deaths among young adults post-COVID-19 pandemic;
- (d) whether the Government has issued any directives to medical institutions or State health departments to monitor and report cases of unexplained sudden deaths more systematically and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen public trust in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme amidst ongoing misinformation campaigns; and
- (f) the current status and objectives of the study titled 'Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young', being conducted by AIIMS and ICMR?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) & (b) Government of India is aware of the public concern over sudden deaths following COVID19 vaccination in the country. In order to raise awareness about safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and sustain vaccine confidence, a communication strategy is in place which is implemented across all States/UTs. Some key interventions as part of communication strategy include FAQs for general public and healthcare workers that is available on MoHFW website ( https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FAQsforHCWs&FLWs.pdf) ; op-eds and articles by identified experts were published to build vaccine confidence; dissemination of fact check videos by key experts to provide correct & factual information. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has advised States/UTs to disseminate clear, consistent, transparent and factual information to general public to clear misconceptions and sustain vaccine confidence.

(c) & (f) ICMR and NCDC explored two approaches to investigate the causes of sudden death. The details of both these studies are as follows:

Study 1: ICMR NIE conducted a study titled ' Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India -A multicentric matched case -control study ' at 47 tertiary care hospitals located across 19 states/UT of India during May- August 2023. The study observed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India. Past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history of sudden death and certain lifestyle behaviors increased the likelihood of unexplained sudden death.

Study 2: The study, titled ' Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young, ' is currently conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi with funding and in collaboration with ICMR. This is a prospective study aimed at determining the common causes of sudden deaths in young adults. The objective of the study is to establish the common causes of sudden death in young adult patients of age 18 years to 45 years. The study is not yet completed.

(d) The operational guidelines for Covid-19 vaccination clearly defines the process of monitoring, reporting, management and evaluation of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) after Covid-19 vaccination. The AEFI Committee was strengthened for Covid-19 vaccination with inclusion of specialists from Cardiology / Neurology / Respiratory Medicine / Obstetrics etc.

(e) To strengthen public trust in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged, evidence-based communication and outreach strategy. Key measures include:

-  Press Notes, Press Releases, and Social Media Campaigns: The Government issued multiple press notes and releases clarifying the scientific evidence and safety of COVID19 vaccines.
-  Expert-Led Public Communication: 23 distinguished experts and industry leaders actively supported the Government ' s efforts by issuing public statements, participating in media briefings, and engaging with citizens to dispel myths and affirm vaccine safety and efficacy on 3 rd and 4 th July, 2025.
-  Strategic Media Engagement: The Ministry leveraged mainstream news agencies like ANI, PTI, DD News, and IANS to amplify expert opinions and scientific updates. These were widely shared across platforms to counter misinformation and increase public awareness.
-  Ongoing Scientific Research and Transparency: The Government ensured full transparency by publicly releasing (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2141419) the interim findings of two large-scale studies conducted by ICMR and AIIMS, both of which concluded that there is no evidence of a causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden deaths. These scientific updates were part of a proactive effort to inform and reassure the public.

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