Following the sudden death of a schoolteacher in Lahore, renewed concerns have surfaced about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and a perceived rise in heart attacks among young people.

However, leading cardiologists and researchers in Pakistan and India have strongly refuted these claims, citing lack of scientific evidence linking the vaccines to sudden cardiac deaths.

Professor Dr. Nadeem Rizvi, a senior cardiologist in Pakistan, emphasized that there is no credible data to support the theory that COVID-19 vaccines are causing heart attacks. “Globally, no study has shown an increase in heart disease or sudden deaths among vaccinated individuals,” he said.

He explained that sudden cardiac arrests in young people are more often due to hereditary factors or rare underlying conditions, not blocked arteries or vaccines.

Dr. Rizvi also noted that while very rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) have been observed -- mostly in young men -- these instances were mild and treatable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also found no increased risk of myocarditis from the vaccine since 2022.

AIIMS Delhi study finds no link to cardiac arrests

In India, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), conducted a comprehensive study investigating over 300 cases of sudden, unexplained deaths among individuals aged 18 to 45. The findings concluded that there is no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to these deaths.

“The patterns of sudden cardiac deaths seen post-vaccination are similar to what we observed even before the pandemic,” said Dr. Karan Madan, Associate Professor at AIIMS.

Dr. Sudheer Arava, a pathologist at AIIMS and part of the study, told IANS that the cause of death in most cases was coronary artery disease, often resulting from unhealthy lifestyles, pre-existing conditions, or genetic factors. “Till now, our data says that the vaccine has no effect on the cause of death—whether it is the first, second, or third dose,” he said.

Social media panic vs medical evidence

The fear around vaccines causing heart attacks emerged largely due to isolated incidents reported on social media platforms, sparking speculation and panic. However, experts warn against drawing conclusions without clinical investigations.

“Sudden deaths outside of hospital settings often have multiple causes, and unless a defibrillator is used within minutes, survival is rare,” Dr. Rizvi said. He urged the public not to link every cardiac event to the COVID-19 vaccine without proper medical proof.

Why young people may be at risk

Doctors from both countries agree that the real culprits behind sudden heart attacks in young adults include:

Unhealthy diet and lifestyle
Lack of physical activity
Smoking and alcohol use
High stress levels
Obesity and undiagnosed pre-existing conditions
Genetic predisposition

What should public do?

Health experts recommend focusing on preventive care and lifestyle changes, including:

Regular exercise
Eating heart-healthy foods
Managing blood pressure and cholesterol
Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol
Getting annual medical check-ups

While sudden deaths are tragic and unsettling, experts across Pakistan and India reiterate that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and essential. The focus, they say, should now shift to raising awareness about heart health and ensuring timely medical intervention rather than spreading vaccine-related misinformation.

“The benefits of vaccination during the pandemic far outweigh the extremely rare side effects,” said Dr. Rajiv Narang from AIIMS. “We need to focus on science and not speculation.”