ICMR Refutes BHU Study on Covaxin Side Effects, Calls Findings ‘Misleading’

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has dismissed a recent study from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) alleging that Covaxin increases the risk of rare conditions like stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Labelling the findings as “misleading,” the ICMR has urged the New Zealand-based Drug Safety Journal to retract the study.

In a formal letter, ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl clarified that the apex research body neither endorsed nor funded the BHU study. He noted that the paper incorrectly credited ICMR, stating, “The ICMR is not associated with this study and has not provided any financial or technical support for the research.”

Dr. Bahl criticized the study’s design and called it a flawed “safety analysis” of Covaxin. He requested the journal’s editor and the study’s authors to remove the unauthorized ICMR acknowledgement and issue an erratum.

Additionally, Dr. Bahl demanded an explanation from the authors regarding repeated unauthorized acknowledgements in previous papers, hinting at potential legal and administrative repercussions.