Vaccination Injury in Birmingham, AL
Did you know Alabama has had a Hepatitis A outbreak recently?
Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to prevent diseases like Hepatitis A in Birmingham. But, there are rare incidents of allergic reactions or shoulder injuries from injections.
Given their rarity, it is easy to feel confused about what steps you can take to receive compensation. Once you read this guide, you will have what you need to start moving forward today.
What Is a Vaccination Injury?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports vaccines contain a weakened or dead version of a disease. After injection, the body develops antibodies to specific illnesses. Effectively, this makes the recipient immune from the disease.
Most people who receive vaccines have a successful immunity boost for many illnesses. While vaccines may contain the disease, some recipients develop health problems. A qualified Birmingham, Alabama vaccination injury lawyer can help determine if you have a claim.
It can be onerous to determine how many individuals suffer harm from vaccines annually in Birmingham. Furthermore, linking a vaccine injury to ongoing medical issues can be challenging. Nonetheless, the federal government offers a Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to citizens.
What Are Some Common Types of Vaccination Injuries?
It is perfectly normal to experience some minor soreness around the vaccine injection site. However, vaccines should not cause significant harm. If you or a loved one has experienced pain, loss of body functions or even death, you should talk to an experienced Birmingham vaccination injury lawyer.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
A study of patients at the Children’s of Alabama found ITP to be a common disorder. When it develops in someone from Birmingham, their blood lacks the usual ability to clot. This condition means that simple cuts can be dangerous due to excessive bleeding. Nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, and spots under the skin are typical symptoms.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
CIDP makes the immune system turn against the myelin sheaths that surround nerves. The symptoms can range from tingling sensations to complete paralysis.
It is worth noting that there are top-notch treatments available locally. The GBS/CIDP Foundation International recognizes the University of Alabama at Birmingham for its excellent treatments.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Birmingham, AL health professionals administer the vaccine. Alternatively, the contents of the vaccine can cause harm.
Symptoms may range from ongoing pain at the injection site to a complete loss of muscle movement in the arm. While often temporary, vaccination-related shoulder injuries may be permanent.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Research has linked Guillain-Barre syndrome to different types of vaccines, one of which is the annual flu shot. The condition happens when the immune system attacks itself, causing damage to nerve cells.
While the symptoms vary, they often include paralysis and muscular weakness. These issues typically resolve within a few weeks. But, Guillain-Barre syndrome may cause permanent nerve damage. This injury may result in loss of motion, paralysis, and other ongoing complications.
Anaphylaxis
Birmingham healthcare professionals should check for known patient allergies. If a vaccine recipient happens to be allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine, the injection may cause a reaction. Symptoms may include hives, fevers, fainting, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. Regrettably, an individual may not realize they have an allergy until after receiving the vaccination.
Encephalitis
Encephalitis sometimes happens when there is an infection in the body. It can also be part of the body’s response to an infection. This condition results in swelling of brain tissue.
Some common symptoms of encephalitis are pain, fever, headaches, fatigue, and weakness. While these problems may resolve in a few weeks, doctors must track this potentially life-threatening condition.
Myelitis
While encephalitis is swelling of the brain, myelitis involves spinal cord inflammation. Nonetheless, doctors and scientists do not completely understand the causes of myelitis.
Still, some patients have developed spinal cord inflammation after the vaccine injection. Swelling around the spinal cord may cause a variety of complications. Symptoms may include paralysis, pain, and loss of muscular control.
What Are Some of the Vaccines, Conditions, and Injuries Covered by Law?
Many incidents in Birmingham have eligibility for compensation from the federal government. For starters, you can examine the details of the latest Vaccine Injury Table. A few frequent and notable examples of how these work are below.
Hepatitis A
Alabama Public Health reports there was an outbreak of Hepatitis A from 2018 to 2020. Furthermore, there were 1,177 hospitalizations from the start of the flare-up to 2022.
Protecting yourself from Hepatitis A typically starts with vaccinations at two years old. Only the customary issues from receiving an injection have eligibility for compensation: shoulder injuries or passing out.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Alabama Public Health identifies meningococcal diseases as the top cause of meningitis in minors. However, it is also possible that septicemia, a blood infection, can happen due to an infection. The injuries and their time limits for compensation for Birmingham residents include:
- Fainting up to one hour after administration of the vaccine
- Injuries to your shoulder that become evident in less than 48 hours
- Allergic reactions that start within four hours of inoculation
Measles Vaccine
Measles is especially contagious since it stays in the air for up to two hours. Consequently, Alabama Public Health recommends vaccinations start at 12 to 15 months old. Ensuring this happens can help prevent mass spreading in vulnerable environments like classrooms.
Vaccination for measles in Birmingham typically happens with the MMR vaccine. This shot also covers mumps and rubella. However, it is notable that any vaccination for the latter has a rare risk for intussusception.
What Is the Legal Process for a Vaccination Injury?
Even if the symptoms you experienced after your vaccine are not in the above list, you may still have a vaccination injury.
If you have sustained an injury from vaccination in Birmingham, Alabama, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should also seek a legal opinion as quickly as possible. A vaccine-related injury can result in extreme consequences that interfere with your life. Accordingly, you may be able to pursue financial compensation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Hiring a qualified Birmingham legal professional can help determine if you qualify for compensation.
A lawyer can also explain your other legal options. For example, you could file a lawsuit against the vaccine manufacturer. In other cases, you may sue the healthcare professional who administered the vaccine.
The claims process is very complex. If you do not properly assert your claim, you may receive a denial and jeopardize your odds of receiving compensation. Generally, the U.S. District Court for the North District of Alabama will determine if your case can move forward.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Birmingham, Alabama
The purpose of a vaccine is to improve your quality of life by keeping you healthy. Unfortunately, if you suffer an injury after a vaccination, your life may never be the same again.
While you may be able to receive financial compensation for your vaccine injury, the process is not easy. Therefore, hiring an experienced Birmingham, AL vaccine injury attorney is essential. It will greatly impact the quality of assistance and settlement you may receive.
If you are looking to hire a vaccination injury lawyer, we are here for you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alabama state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
