‘Heart attacks after vaccination!’ Viral message resurfaces: Here’s the truth

There have been numerous false rumours related to vaccinations over the years. One such widely circulated poster claims that individuals aged between 40 and 60 who have received the vaccine are experiencing unexpected heart attacks. The notice alleges that the vaccine damages blood vessels, causing blood clots, which in turn leads to these heart attacks. It also advises people in this age group to undergo a D-dimer test.

This poster previously circulated under the name of the ESI Hospital located in Pathalam, Ernakulam. The Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi’s fact-check team investigated and found the claim to be false.

Currently, the same poster is spreading again with a message stating, “This poster has been put up in the hospital; everyone please take note,” without naming the hospital.

Investigation

This poster first surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Though it only mentioned “vaccination”, it was understood to refer to the COVID-19 vaccine. The notice attributed to the Pathalam ESI Hospital went viral extensively. Hospital authorities lodged a police complaint and issued a statement declaring the message to be false.

Regarding the possibility of blood clotting due to COVID-19 or other vaccines, health experts have clearly stated that there is no scientific basis for the claim that vaccinated individuals aged 40 to 60 are prone to heart attacks. It is incorrect to claim that all people who received the COVID-19 vaccine develop heart conditions.

Several medical journals—including the US National Library of Medicine, The Lancet and UpToDate—have published studies investigating any links between COVID-19 vaccines and heart disease. While very rare cases of heart-related issues have been reported post-vaccination, none of these studies have conclusively proven a direct causal relationship. The reports also emphasise the need for further research on this topic.

What is a D-dimer test?

D-dimer is a protein fragment found in the blood when a blood clot dissolves. The D-dimer test measures the level of this protein. It is commonly used to detect blood clots in the legs, lungs and to diagnose conditions such as stroke and heart attack.

Health experts have stated that the suggestion to undergo a D-dimer test simply because one has been vaccinated is incorrect.

The truth

The claim that vaccinated individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 suffer heart attacks due to blood clots is false. This misinformation has been circulating since 2023.

Similar fake messages were previously circulated in the name of the ESI Hospital at Pathalam, Ernakulam. The hospital authorities took action by filing police complaints to counter the false rumours.