Vaccines have been successful in eliminating many harmful diseases in modern history. The polio vaccine, for example, was successful in eradicating that deadly disease. Today, we still rely on vaccines on a regular basis to read for measles, mumps, the common flu, and now COVID-19.
While data proves that vaccines are successful in addressing these ailments, the vaccines themselves are not without risk. While the incidence of injury from vaccines remains low, those affected can suffer debilitating injury and many require ongoing care.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as an adverse side effect of a vaccine, you should seek legal counsel. Claims due to vaccine injury can pose unique challenges and having an experienced injury attorney in your corner is important.
COVID-19 Vaccine Injury
The CDC lists potential side effects to include:
- Anaphylaxis - While rare (affecting 2 to 5 people per million) severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis have occurred in individuals.
- Thrombosis / Thrombocytopenia - While there have been fewer than 50 reported cases of this syndrome reported, it does pose a potential risk.
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) - There have been approximately 220 reported cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome after receiving the vaccine.
- Myocarditis and Pericarditis - There have been over 1,500 reported cases of these ailments reported post-vaccination in the U.S. as of September 2021.
- Death - There have been over 8,300 deaths reported among people after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States between December, 2020 and September, 2021.
Directly attributing illness to the COVID-19 vaccine can be challenging. Recent reports have indicated a possible causal relationship between illness and the vaccine.
The Flu Vaccine
Each year the medical community urges Americans to get the flu vaccine, and for good reason. Influenza kills more than 20,000 people in the U.S. each year. Of course, these vaccines do not come without risk. While most adverse effects include stiffness or soreness at the injection site, there are some serious complications to be aware of including Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). This is a rare illness usually identified in people over 50 years of age. It causes a person's immune system to attack nerves in the body.
National Vaccine Compensation Program
The U.S. Government created the National Vaccine Compensation Program to compensate for injures caused by vaccine-related illness. It was created to provide "a federal no-fault, non-adversarial alternative to suing vaccine manufacturers and providers in civil court."
Getting Help
If you or a loved one suffered an illness or injury as a direct result of a vaccination, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our offices to speak with an experienced attorney. We offer a free initial consultation for your specific scenario.
