Covid Vaccination Not Linked to Heart Attack Risk: Health Minister in Lok Sabha

Quick Summary

• Union Health Minister J.P.Nadda stated COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of heart attacks.
• Heart attack cases are not centrally tracked, as they are non-notifiable.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a multi-centric study (Oct 2021-Jan 2023) at 25 hospitals to examine Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) risk factors in adults aged 18-45 years.

– Known co-morbidities,family history of thrombotic events,and smoking were linked to higher AMI risk.
– COVID-19 vaccination showed no effect on AMI risks, even in patients without co-morbidities or other risk factors.

• ICMR has funded two advanced research centers in the last two years for studies on cardiac disorders.
• Under the National program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), India has established:

– 770 district-level NCD clinics, 6410 community health center clinics, and 233 cardiac care units.
– A screening initiative targeting those over 30 years old for conditions like diabetes and hypertension as part of extensive primary healthcare.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s proactive measures to address cardiovascular diseases thru the NP-NCD framework highlight its commitment to tackling noncommunicable diseases. The findings from ICMR’s large-scale study are important-they affirm that COVID vaccinations have no link to increased heart attack risks-a point that coudl reassure public trust amidst vaccine hesitancy debates.

However, the lack of centralized data regarding heart attacks suggests gaps in India’s health monitoring infrastructure. Establishing systematic registries could enhance policymaking and resource allocation tailored toward prevention and treatment strategies.

As India continues funding research into cardiac disorders alongside expanding access to diagnostic healthcare facilities nationwide under NHM initiatives, these steps serve as critical foundations toward mitigating rising NCD burdens within a vast population demographic.

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