No link between Covid-19 vaccine, heart attack deaths: Rushikesh Patel – The Indian Express

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel Monday ruled out any relation between Covid-19 vaccine and deaths caused by heart attacks. This notion is totally baseless. Nearly 250 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered across the country. Heart attacks are not caused because of any side-effects of the vaccine. There is no relation between deaths due to heart attacks and the coronavirus vaccine, he said in response to a question by Congress MLA Imran Khedawala during Question Hour of the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly in Gandhinagar.

It is possible people may have got infected with fibrosis (a serious lung disease) due to Covid-19, which might decrease the capacity of lungs due to blockages. Otherwise, there is no relation between heart attacks and the coronavirus vaccine, Patel told the House.

Further, he added that as on February 4, there were 68 active Covid-19 cases in the state. The figures were revealed as the state government has stopped updating its Covid-19 figures on an online portal.

The minister stated that 80 patients, detected with the JN.1 sub-variant, have been treated so far till date. However, he added that JN.1 is a very weak sub-variant.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA Hemant Ahir asked the health minister under what rule was it decided to convert the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Dhrol in Jamnagar to a sub-district hospital (SDH) when it is only 45 kms from the district headquarters. His constituency of Jamjodhpur is around 95 kms away from the district headquarters and yet, the CHC there has not been upgraded as an SDH, he said. Emphasising that when it comes to health and education, without being partisan, without thinking of AAP or Congress, works are done across Gujarat, Patel said that an SDH is under consideration in Jamjodhpur.

Patel went on to add that both Dhrol and Jamjodhpur are in Gujarat and the upgradation of Dhrol CHC to a SDH is being done as per parameters and policy considered for such upgradation of health centres.

Meanwhile, in response to a question by Patan Congress MLA Kiritkumar Patel, inquiring about pending dues to be paid to hospitals in Patan under the PMJAY scheme, the data tabled shows that dues worth Rs 16.47 crore are pending to be cleared across 79 health facilities, including PHCs, CHCs, government and private hospitals, as on date.

Of the Rs 16.47 crore of pending dues, Rs 3.90 crore have been pending since six months, including CHCs in Sander and Varahi in Patan, and government-aided GMERS Hospital in Patan, along with 14 other health facilities. Dues worth Rs 42.78 lakh have been pending since a year, including at CHCs at Kakoshi and Kuvara in the district.

Ayurveda syrup deaths

Khedawala also quizzed about the action taken after four people died in November last year by allegedly consuming an ayurvedic syrup. In response, the Gujarat health ministry tabled a report stating that eight persons were arrested in the case and chargesheet has been filed.

All the arrested are currently in judicial custody. Additionally, the syrup was seized from 12 spots across the state, according to the department, that include three paan parlours at Mehmedabad, two paan parlours and a hotel in Vadtal in Kheda, and a shop in Nadiad town.

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No link between Covid-19 vaccine, heart attack deaths: Rushikesh Patel - The Indian Express