Vaccine Injury Reactions You May Experience
In most cases, vaccinations are safe. However, in a small percentage of situations, they cause far more harm than good.
As a result, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act in 1986. This created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in 1988. It allows for financial compensation to vaccine injury victims who meet certain criteria.
Many symptoms caused by these shots are covered:
- Any vaccine containing tetanus toxoid (DTaP, DTP, DT, Td, TT)
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Influenza vaccine
For most people, these vaccines cause mild symptoms, or none at all. But for some, they cause significant, sometimes life-changing, consequences. In some cases, the medical professional providing the shot used improper technique causing the injury. In others, the individual simply doesn’t react well to the vaccine and suffers a severe reaction. And often times, the causes of the adverse reaction are unknown.
These vaccines can lead to severe conditions, like:
1. Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
With this condition, your immune system decides to attack your own peripheral nervous system. Initial signs of GBS include weakness and tingling in your legs. Eventually, GBS causes some of your muscles to stop working, complete paralysis, and even death. Learn more about GBS…
2. Transverse Myelitis
This condition causes painful inflammation on both sides (the wide sides) of your spinal cord. At first, you experience sudden back pain. It quickly leads to more severe symptoms like paralysis and loss of bowel or bladder control. You can fully recover, but you can also experience significant impairments in your ability to live your daily life. Learn more about transverse myelitis…
3. Brachial Neuritis
Also known as “Parsonage-Turner Syndrome,” brachial neuritis causes sudden pain in your arm and shoulder. Eventually, this leads to numbness and weakness, and your arm can become so weak you’re unable to use it. In most cases, you get better in a year. Some patients never fully recover. Learn more about brachial neuritis…
4. Intussusception
This disorder causes part of your child’s intestine to slide into an adjacent intestine, blocking fluid from passing through. It causes your child’s belly to swell, bloody stools, sluggishness, vomiting, fever, and weakness. While it’s easily treated and isn’t immediately life-threatening, it can cause death. Learn more about intussusception…
5. Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Just like it sounds, you experience pain in the shoulder you received your vaccination. This pain is more significant than the normal pain of an injection. It lasts days, weeks, or months, and can cause stiffness, weakness, and numbness. In some cases, the intense pain and other symptoms last for years and require powerful narcotics for treatment or even surgery. You can lose your ability to perform simple daily activities. Learn more about SIRVA injuries…
How Many People Are Affected by These Vaccine Related Conditions?
All these conditions are comparatively rare. However, thousands of people still get hurt by them.
Some recent statistics:
- GBS – No one has specific information, but estimates of GBS range from 3,000 – 6,000 cases annually. Many cases happen for unknown reasons.
- Transverse Myelitis – Only about 1,400 Americans are diagnosed with this each year, but about 33,000 have a disability this disorder causes.
- Brachial Neuritis – Around 5,200 cases of this condition get diagnosed each year. However, medical experts think this number is low, because the condition is hard to diagnose and recognize.
- Intussusception – Around 1350 intussusception cases are diagnosed annually. However, it’s not known how many result from vaccinations.
- SIRVA – There are no accurate numbers on the frequency of SIRVA. However, experts expect the number of SIRVA injuries to be high.
Currently, the CDC has issued a set of guidelines to help medical professionals properly administer vaccines. However, the CDC itself does nothing to enforce them, leaving that up to each individual organization.
Did You or a Loved One Experience a Vaccine Injury?
If you believe you or a loved one were hurt by a vaccine, you may be entitled to compensation. But, the only court that processes vaccine injury cases is located in Washington, DC. And, your lawyer must be admitted to practice in front of that court.
Fortunately, the lawyers at Howie Law, P.C. are admitted to practice before the US Court of Federal Claims and represent clients from states all across the country. Rated as “Super Lawyer, Rising Star” and “Texas Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters, we have helped clients win millions in compensation.
Call us at 866-828-2028 or contact us online today for your free consultation.