2955CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA — A popular entertainer and environmental activist is dead in yet another coincidence tied to experimental COVID-19 shots.
Vivek, also spelled Vivekh, and born Vivekanandan, received the experimental Bharat Biotech Covaxin BBV152 shot on Thursday, April 15, according to the Times of India. Three shots are authorized for emergency use in India – Covishield/AstraZeneca, Covaxin and Russian Sputnik V. Sputnik and Covishield are experimental viral vectors. Covaxin is an experimental “inactivated virus” shot. It requires two doses spread several weeks apart.
The 59-year-old received the shot at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai.
His shot was broadcast live on television during a public event. He urged other people to follow his lead and get the shots too. He said at the event:
Many have doubts about vaccination and its side effects. There are also several rumors doing the rounds. I want to put an end to all the rumors. I want to show people that there is no danger in getting vaccinated. On the contrary, it will protect us.
Vivek almost immediately fell ill. He suffered a heart attack the following morning, prompting his wife and daughter to take him to the emergency room at SIMS Hospital. Doctors said he suffered “an acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock.” He underwent an angioplasty, and a stent was inserted in his left coronary artery to attempt unblocking it. Vivek was also placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (EMCO) machine. It essentially acts as an artificial heart outside the patient’s body.
Despite all the efforts, Vivek passed away early Saturday morning.
The Tamil Nadu Health Department denied any link between Vivek’s death and the experimental Covaxin shot. State Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan released the following statement:
“Six people, who came with Vivek, also took the vaccine. Today also many received the vaccine. Doctors say that a person may not develop such a severe block in a day. A committee of the central government has recommended the vaccine for people with more than 20 comorbid diseases. What happened today is an unfortunate incident.”
The Indian Express reported that his body was almost immediately cremated, presumably to prevent autopsies. Numerous actors and entertainers from India expressed condolences on Twitter and Instagram.
Vivek was an icon in Tamil cinema, aka Kollywood since the industry is based in the Kodambakkam neighborhood of Chennai. Bollywood, the Hindi cinema, is a portmanteau of Bombay and Hollywood. Some of Vivek’s most popular films include “Run” (2002), “Saamy” (2003), “Parthiban Kanavu” (2003), “Perazhagan” (2004) and “Sivaji” (2007).
He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Vivek also had a son who passed away at the age of 13.