Leading drugmakers on Thursday rallied in support of Covid vaccines, using various social media platforms, amid a series of deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district due to heart attacks.
Dilip Shanghvi, chairman and managing director at Sun Pharmaceuticals said in a post on LinkedIn, “The deaths of multiple young individuals in one district of Karnataka due to cardiac ailments are unfortunate. While this appears to be specific to the district, linking it to the Covid-19 vaccine without any scientific evidence is "incorrect and misleading".
"India’s vaccine approval process is rigorous and science-driven, and we must continue to have confidence in it. The vaccine has been administered to millions across the country. If there were a connection, we would have seen similar incidents in many other places — which is not the case. The State health authorities should thoroughly investigate the situation to determine the cause,” Sanghavi said.
Sorting to allay the apprehensions, Pankaj Patel, chairman, Zydus Lifesciences, which also manufactures Covid DNA vaccine, said in a post on X, “There are other multiple reasons like age, environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle etc, that could be the leading cause of heart attacks in people. Several scientific studies globally and in India have conclusively shown that the risk of heart attack or myocarditis is greater after SARS-CoV-2 infection. #Vaccines save lives.”
Appreciating the vaccination programme, Patel said, "the massive vaccination programme in our country during the peak of Covid phase saved millions of people and families. In fact a study published in Lancet estimated that India averted almost 3.4 million deaths due to vaccination in the year 2021," he said.
Satish Reddy, chairman, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, wrote, “India-made vaccines are safe...backed by WHO and used worldwide. They helped end polio and fight Covid. At a time when India is seen as a vaccine leader, let’s build trust in science, not doubt it. Public health must stay above politics.”
A post on X attributed to Samir Mehta, executive chairman, Torrent Pharma said, “India has earned global recognition as the Pharmacy of the World, supplying safe and effective vaccines to over 90 countries…Let’s not allow misinformation to erode trust in science or the integrity of India’s healthcare ecosystem.”
Responding to rising concerns over the sudden deaths of more than 20 people in Hassan district, the Karnataka health department formed an expert committee to probe a possible link to Covid vaccines.
However, support came pouring in for Covid vaccines.
The Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association said Covid-19 vaccines were developed and manufactured in the country with the highest safety and quality standards.
Assuring about the safety of these vaccines, Dr/ G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan, director general at the association said the approvals were based on extensive evaluation in preclinical studies and human clinical trials with positive results on safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the vaccines.
“Patient safety and product quality are always prioritised during the vaccine development and its manufacture,” he said in a statement. He said prior to releasing the vaccines, they were tested extensively for safety by the manufacturers and are also provided batch release certification by the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Sudarshan Jain, secretary general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said during the pandemic, vaccines played a crucial role, and India consistently supplied medicines and vaccines across the world. "These vaccines have been well documented and rigorously tested as per regulatory processes. Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally".
Dilip Shanghvi, chairman and managing director at Sun Pharmaceuticals said in a post on LinkedIn, “The deaths of multiple young individuals in one district of Karnataka due to cardiac ailments are unfortunate. While this appears to be specific to the district, linking it to the Covid-19 vaccine without any scientific evidence is "incorrect and misleading".
"India’s vaccine approval process is rigorous and science-driven, and we must continue to have confidence in it. The vaccine has been administered to millions across the country. If there were a connection, we would have seen similar incidents in many other places — which is not the case. The State health authorities should thoroughly investigate the situation to determine the cause,” Sanghavi said.
Sorting to allay the apprehensions, Pankaj Patel, chairman, Zydus Lifesciences, which also manufactures Covid DNA vaccine, said in a post on X, “There are other multiple reasons like age, environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle etc, that could be the leading cause of heart attacks in people. Several scientific studies globally and in India have conclusively shown that the risk of heart attack or myocarditis is greater after SARS-CoV-2 infection. #Vaccines save lives.”
Appreciating the vaccination programme, Patel said, "the massive vaccination programme in our country during the peak of Covid phase saved millions of people and families. In fact a study published in Lancet estimated that India averted almost 3.4 million deaths due to vaccination in the year 2021," he said.
Satish Reddy, chairman, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, wrote, “India-made vaccines are safe...backed by WHO and used worldwide. They helped end polio and fight Covid. At a time when India is seen as a vaccine leader, let’s build trust in science, not doubt it. Public health must stay above politics.”
A post on X attributed to Samir Mehta, executive chairman, Torrent Pharma said, “India has earned global recognition as the Pharmacy of the World, supplying safe and effective vaccines to over 90 countries…Let’s not allow misinformation to erode trust in science or the integrity of India’s healthcare ecosystem.”
Responding to rising concerns over the sudden deaths of more than 20 people in Hassan district, the Karnataka health department formed an expert committee to probe a possible link to Covid vaccines.
However, support came pouring in for Covid vaccines.
The Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association said Covid-19 vaccines were developed and manufactured in the country with the highest safety and quality standards.
Assuring about the safety of these vaccines, Dr/ G.V.J.A. Harshavardhan, director general at the association said the approvals were based on extensive evaluation in preclinical studies and human clinical trials with positive results on safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the vaccines.
“Patient safety and product quality are always prioritised during the vaccine development and its manufacture,” he said in a statement. He said prior to releasing the vaccines, they were tested extensively for safety by the manufacturers and are also provided batch release certification by the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Sudarshan Jain, secretary general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said during the pandemic, vaccines played a crucial role, and India consistently supplied medicines and vaccines across the world. "These vaccines have been well documented and rigorously tested as per regulatory processes. Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally".
You may also like
Defamation case: K'taka HC stays trial court proceedings against Dy CM Shivakumar
Caitlyn Jenner's pal Sophia Hutchins' heartbreaking last post about 'healing' before death
Horror moment 'tsunami wave' smashes into beach as injured people scream in terror
IIT JAM 2025 Admission Calendar Out At jam2025.iitd.ac.in; Check Key Dates For All IITs
BSE Announces Demat Auction For Rolling Settlement DR-665, Details On Auction Timings, Procedures & Member Obligations
