Heart attacks linked to Post-COVID effects, not vaccines: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday clarified that COVID-19 vaccines are not responsible for the rising number of heart attack cases reported in recent years. Instead, he said, expert findings suggest that post-COVID health complications and lifestyle changes are likely contributors.
Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha after receiving a detailed report from a committee led by Dr. Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, the minister said, “The expert panel has confirmed that vaccines are not the cause of heart attacks.”
According to the committee’s report, increased instances of diabetes post-COVID have been one of the major triggers for heart attacks. Other contributing factors include high blood pressure, residual health complications from COVID infection, medication side effects, lack of physical activity, and sedentary lifestyles such as spending long hours in front of televisions and computers.
The government had earlier written to the Chief Secretary seeking clarity on the sudden spike in heart-related deaths and post-COVID complications. In response, a committee was formed under Dr. Ravindranath’s leadership. The submitted report has acknowledged a slight rise in heart attack cases after COVID-19, but clearly stated that vaccines are not the cause.
The panel also highlighted that modern lifestyle habits have significantly contributed to the increase in heart-related deaths. Citing global studies that support similar findings, Minister Rao said the government is treating the rise in sudden deaths seriously and will act based on the recommendations made by the expert committee.
He further added that an official notification on the matter will be issued soon, and that the government is considering key policy decisions in response to the findings.
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Leadership issue: Cong high command will call us at 'appropriate time,' will wait, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 20 (PTI): With the leadership issue involving him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to the fore again, deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has told the two leaders as to when they will be called to Delhi to to discuss the matter.
He said that both of them will go to Delhi and meet the high command, when summoned.
"I will inform you, I won't do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on him and Siddaramaiah's likely visit to the national capital to meet the party high command after the just concluded legislature session.
Asked if there was any invitation from the high command, asking him and CM to come to Delhi, he said, "they have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go."
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"They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call," the Karnataka Congress chief added.
Shivakumar's statement came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue in office. He had also said that the Congress high command was "in my favour" and asserted that no decision was made on him staying at the helm for only two-and-a-half years, as per a rumoured 2023 agreement on power-sharing with his deputy.
Shivakumar, had said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fueled by the "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.
Meanwhile some 'Naga Sadhus' visited the Deputy CM's residence and blessed him.
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Stating that he is going to Delhi on Tuesday to meet various central ministers, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for water resources said, "the central government's water resources department has called us regarding interlinking of rivers."
"I will go there and discuss matters related to the state's river projects like Mahadayi, Krishna water award, Mekedatu, and Upper Badhra."
He said he will also meet the central water resources minister, forest minister, urban development minister.
"There are a lot of issues. We wanted to meet them along with MPs from the state, but still I will go and meet. Then after that, if needed, we will meet the Prime Minister also with the issues," Shivkumar added.
Hitting out at the Modi government at the Center for replacing the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from it, Shivakumar accused it of insulting the father of the nation.
He also challenged the government to remove Gandhiji's image from currency notes.
"The country wants Gandhi. People of the country will respond to it," he said.
"They want to change Gandhi's name...let them change this picture of Gandhi also," he said, showing a currency note.
"With Gandhi's name we had started an employment guarantee scheme under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and (late) Manmohan Singh (former PM), the MGNREGA.....they want to kill the scheme, so they have changed its name. A big movement will start against it from Karnataka itself," he said.
