Union Health Minister JP Nadda told Parliament that a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of sudden unexplained deaths in young people in India.

In fact, the study says that vaccination reduces the chances of such deaths. Concerns had been raised about a rise in young adults dying from sudden cardiac arrest, with some speculating it might be linked to COVID-19 or the vaccine. This pushed the ICMR and the National Institute of Epidemiology to conduct the study.

In the Rajya Sabha, Nadda assured that a strong system is in place to monitor any side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. He said that people are required to stay for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine for observation, and anaphylaxis kits are available at vaccination centres for emergencies.

To raise awareness about side effects, the Health Ministry has given guidelines to states to report any vaccine-related issues and is sharing information in different languages. Nadda also said that the study clears up any confusion about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and refutes claims that it causes sudden unexplained deaths.

The ICMR study focused on healthy individuals aged 18-45 with no known health issues who died suddenly from unknown causes between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023. The research, conducted across 47 hospitals in 19 states and Union Territories, analyzed 729 cases of sudden deaths and 2,916 controls. The findings showed that receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly two doses, greatly reduced the chances of sudden unexplained death.

According to experts, sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating or beats too quickly, preventing it from pumping blood and causing the person to collapse. This condition strikes without warning, which is why it's called "sudden" cardiac arrest. Doctors say it can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Since the heart stops pumping blood within minutes, the body and organs are at risk because they rely on a constant supply of oxygen. Emergency treatments like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation are crucial. CPR helps keep oxygen in the lungs and supplies it to the brain, while an electric shock from a defibrillator can restore a normal heart rhythm. Both treatments can save lives.