Vaccination Injury in Boston, MA

Jenny McCarthy became famous for 2 things; being on MTV, and denying the effectiveness of vaccines. While you shouldn’t get your medical advice from celebrities, it is worth noting that vaccines can have certain adverse effects in a very small number of individuals.

Still, if you have been injured during the administration of a vaccine, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced Boston attorney. He or she can fight for you as they file your claim.

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 Boston, Massachusetts 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 Boston. 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 Boston vaccination injury lawyer.

Swelling

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, swelling is a common side effect of vaccination. This generally presents at the injection site. However, there are instances of swelling of the face and throat that are warning signs of a severe allergic reaction. If this happens you should immediately contact a healthcare provider, or call 9-1-1.

Nausea

Science and Safety states that nausea is an extremely common response to many vaccines. As a vaccine is introducing a partial or inert microbe into your body’s immune system, a response is triggered as if it were fighting the disease itself. While nausea can be quite common, prolonged vomiting should be taken seriously and dealt with by a medical professional.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Boston, MA 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

Boston 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 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?

Influenza

Many people line up year after year to get a flu shot at their local pharmacies. However, even with such a routine vaccination, problems can occur. While these side effects are rare, individuals getting a flu vaccine could experience:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Hypertension
  • Shoulder Soreness
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Pertussis

More commonly known as whooping cough, pertussis is easily recognizable when contracted as the individual will develop a wheezing cough as they breathe. While this is highly contagious, the vaccine has done an incredible job of stifling this virus. Still, there are unfortunate cases when a severe allergic reaction takes place when receiving this vaccine.

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 a vaccination in Boston, Massachusetts, 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 Boston 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.

Boston residents that have been injured during vaccination may want to engage the services of an experienced Boston attorney. This could be your best avenue of seeing justice and reclamation. Your attorney will most likely file your case with the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Boston, Massachusetts

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 Boston, MA 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 Massachusetts 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!

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