'I've A Duty...': Siddaramaiah Reacts To Biocon's Kiran, Repeats Claim On Vaccine-Heart Attack Link

Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 21:30 IST

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah questioned Covid-19 vaccine safety, while Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw defended it.

Siddaramaiah's concerns have also been dismissed by several top health experts in the country. (PTI Photo file)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday reacted to Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw after she dismissed the former’s claim over Covid-19 vaccination and its link to heart attack deaths in Hassan.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said seeking clarity is not “misinformation" and called an “act of governance rooted in empathy".

He also shared that an article in the Telegraph, where “AstraZeneca admitted side effects of vaccine," and said that several studies and even admissions by manufacturers have acknowledged rare but serious adverse events, including cardiac issues.

Siddaramaiah’s concerns have also been dismissed by several top health experts in the country.

‘No Clear Association’: AIIMS Doctors Dismiss Link Between Covid Vaccines, Heart Attack Deaths

The Biocon founder objected to Siddaramaiah’s claim that Covid-19 vaccines were “hastily" approved and said rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy were followed.

“COVID-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were ‘hastily’ approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation. 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," she wrote in a post on X.

Niti Aayog’s VK Paul Dimisses Claim

Meanwhile, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said that factors such as a family history of heart disease, severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalisation, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption could increase heart risk — and cautioned against believing in unfounded theories.

He said Covid vaccines were tested after systematic laboratory studies, animal toxicity studies and clinical studies and they fulfill scientific and all regulatory and benchmark criteria. “The notion of sudden deaths linked to the vaccines has been making rounds and to address it systematically, a study was commissioned by the ICMR… published in 2023 and conducted in 47 hospital sites… More than 700 young individuals who suffered sudden deaths were included… What emerged was that Covid vaccine was actually protective against sudden deaths, decreasing its risk… What was responsible for sudden death was – if the individual had a genetic tendency due to family history of heart ailments, if one had suffered more severe Covid-19 illness that required hospitalisation, smoking, and those who had consumed excess alcohol… Let’s not be prey to unfounded notions," he said.

(With inputs from ANI)

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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