Tetanus Shot Injuries

Tetanus Shot Injuries Compensation Claims

Tetanus vaccinations may prevent systemic infection from bacteria accessing the body through a cut or wound, but they can also cause recipients of tetanus vaccinations to suffer severe injuries that require extended or even lifelong treatment. Learn how you can get compensation to pay for medical bills and recover pain and suffering from tetanus vaccine injuries.

Caused by the Clostridium tetani species of bacteria found in nearly all environmental substances, tetanus is a serious infection involving spores that typically enter the body through open wounds. Once in the bloodstream, these spores transform into bacteria within three days to three weeks.

Tetanus symptoms include sudden muscle spasms/tightening; jaw cramping/stiffness; difficulty swallowing; seizures and fluctuating blood pressure. Blood clots, pneumonia, and inability to breathe are the most serious complications of tetanus. Two in ten cases of tetanus end in death, even if an emergency injection of TIG (tetanus immune globulin) is provided to try to reverse symptoms.

Tetanus Vaccine Common Side Effects

The tetanus vaccination (e.g., DTaP, TDaP, DTP, DT, TD, TT ) is mandatory in all fifty states for children attending public school. Booster tetanus shots are recommended every ten years to maintain immunity to tetanus.

Common side effects of tetanus shots include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, fever, and muscle pain. Severe allergic reactions affect about 1 out of every 100,000 people receiving a tetanus-containing vaccine.

Kidney disease and anaphylactic shock have also been reported as an uncommon but serious consequence of tetanus shots. Anaphylactic shock is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction causing loss of consciousness, tongue swelling, difficulty breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure. Standard treatment for anaphylactic shock is the administration of a hormone called epinephrine (adrenaline) for constricting blood vessels and relaxing muscles controlling airways.

Vaccine injury claims filed by vaccine injury attorneys under the NVICP have obtained compensation for victims of severe health problems caused by the shot. Permanent brain damage, encephalopathy, degenerative neuromuscular disease and chronic seizures attributed to tetanus shots by medical professionals are all consequences that deserve compensation for pain, suffering and health care expenses.

Tetanus Vaccine Injury Claims

In response to hundreds of lawsuits filed against vaccine manufacturers, the U.S. government established the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program over 25 years ago to compensate people injured by adverse reactions to vaccines. To fund the program, each vaccine carries an excise tax of $0.75. To date, the VICP has awarded over $2.5 billion to victims of tetanus shot injuries. Each claim made to the VICP is eligible to receive a maximum of $250,000 for pain and suffering and an unspecified amount for unreimbursed, out of pocket expenses (deductibles, co-pays, unpaid medical bills) and lost wages in the past and future.

Certain criteria must be met before you can file a tetanus vaccine lawsuit. In addition to the tetanus vaccination causing injuries serious enough that the injury lasts at least six months, the injury requires inpatient hospitalization with a surgical procedure or death, you need to file the claim within three of years of suffering injuries or within two years of a tetanus vaccine death. Claims filed beyond these specified periods will be denied by the VICP.

Contact a Tetanus Vaccine Injury Lawyer Today

Claims filed under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program are defended by talented lawyers from the United States Department of Justice who specialize in defending vaccine-injury claims.  The United States Department of Justice has an entire division of attorneys who defend against vaccine injury claims filed under the VICP.  In order to avoid the many pitfalls that the VICP presents, it is critical to retain counsel who regularly handles these types of cases.  Call Howie Law toll free at 866-828-2028 to speak to an experienced vaccine injury attorney. You can also email us or submit your case online to receive free advice regarding your tetanus vaccine claim.