What Should I Do if I Suspect a Vaccine Injury?

Vaccines have saved lives. There is no doubt about this. However, there is no such thing as a risk-free medical procedure. Even though vaccines pose a low risk of injury, there are still times when they cause adverse patient effects. For those who do suffer from a vaccine injury in Mankato, they need to know they can pursue legal action against either the vaccine company that created the shot and/or the medical professionals who administered it.

What are some common vaccine injuries?

Thousands of vaccine injuries are reported each year to the national reporting program, though it is hard to get a true count on how many people are injured each year. There is likely an underreporting of vaccine injuries.

Some of the most common types of vaccine injuries include:

The side effects of vaccines vary from mild symptoms such as rashes to serious injuries and even death. Some of the potential serious side effects can include:

  • Fever and irritability
  • Shock-like symptoms
  • Encephalopathy or encephalitis
  • Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock
  • Chronic arthritis
  • Paralysis
  • Nerve injuries
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Loss of brain white matter
  • Joint pain
  • Sleep sickness
  • Neurological problems
  • Brain Damage
  • Death

What should you do if you suspect a vaccine injury?

If you or a loved one experience odd or unexplained problems following a vaccine, you need to seek medical attention immediately. An evaluation needs to be completed, and tests conducted in order to determine exactly what is causing your medical problems.

Most people do not realize that compensation is available for proven vaccine injuries. The vaccine injury compensation fund (VICP) is a no-fault system established to allow those who have been injured by vaccines to file a claim with the Federal Court of Claims. Congress established the VICP in the 1980s in the midst of several lawsuits against vaccine makers. For a claim to be successful, a claimant needs to show a connection between an injury and a vaccine listed on the Vaccine Injury Table.

Why should I seek legal counsel in a vaccine injury case?

While the process of filing a claim is fairly straightforward, you need to secure an attorney to help with the process. A lawyer who specializes in this area of law will have access to tremendous resources. This can include:

  • The ability to secure an expert medical witness to review your records.
  • The resources to gather all of the evidence in your case and have it ready for a hearing.
  • Handle all communication between you and those responsible for adjudicating your

Your attorney will also be able to help if your VICP claim is denied by the US Department of Justice. If your claim is denied, that does not mean your case is over. It means that your attorney will pursue a case against the vaccine company or the medical professional who administered the vaccine in civil court.

Vaccine injuries are rare, but they do happen. When they do, you need to take the steps necessary to secure compensation for you or your loved one.