COVID-19 vaccination has no link to sudden deaths in young adults: ICMR-NIE

Research had, in fact, indicated the positive effect of vaccination, the Director of the India Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology said

COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults, Manoj V. Murhekar, Director, India Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), told The Hindu on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), adding that their research had indicated other contributing factors, including genetic make-up, binge drinking, COVID-19 hospitalisation, and vigorous intensity physical activity.

“Past COVID hospitalisation, a family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle behaviours increased the likelihood of sudden deaths [in young adults],” Dr. Murhekar said, adding that research had, in fact, indicated the positive effect of vaccination.

There was no urgency or need for the reintroduction of the COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose now, Dr. Murhekar said. “As of now, we aren’t seeing any major spikes in COVID cases, and there are no trends indicating the need for booster doses. We also know that newer variants are escaping vaccination cover so we need not rush into getting booster doses as of now,” he said.

Baseless linking of COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths could hamper the vaccination programmes for other diseases, he cautioned. “It is easy to blame vaccination without any scientific basis but the negative impact it has on the overall acceptance and adherence to vaccination trial participations and use suffers,” Dr. Murhekar said.