Vaccination Injury in Buffalo, NY

Buffalo residents have dealt with the cold, the wind, and disappointment of losing 4 super bowls in a row. What no one should have to deal with is being injured through the administration of a vaccine.

However, this does happen from time to time. If you have received a vaccination injury, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced Buffalo attorney.

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 Buffalo, New York 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 Buffalo. 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 Buffalo vaccination injury lawyer.

Brachial Neuritis

According to Johns Hopkins Medical Center, brachial neuritis is a form of peripheral neuropathy that can affect the chest, shoulders, arms, and hands. While this condition is very rare, it can affect the nerves that carry electrical impulses to the brain. This can result in paralysis as the signals cannot be transmitted from the brain to the spinal cord.

Headache

While the Department of Health and Human Services stresses that headaches are very common after receiving a vaccine, they should not be taken lightly. A headache that dissipates soon after the vaccination is very common, but a persistent headache can be the sign of a deeper problem. Headaches that persist should be reported to a physician immediately.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Buffalo, NY 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

Buffalo 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?

Polio

Polio, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord functions. It is spread through droplets that pass from one person to another contained in sneezes or coughs. It can also be transmitted by touching infected stool. Polio is easily prevented through vaccination, but there are certain side effects that can accompany this. These side effects can include fever, fatigue, nausea, fainting, and even anaphylaxis.

Smallpox

While the WHO has declared smallpox eradicated, vaccination is still required by first responders and military members in the event of an attack. The only current vaccine in use is ACAM2000. This vaccine can produce fever, fatigue, rashes, and even swollen lymph nodes in the short term after administration.

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 Buffalo, New York, 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 Buffalo 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.

Vaccine injuries can be complicated, and should not be taken as something to be brushed off. If you seek the counsel of an experienced Buffalo attorney, he or she will most likely file your case with the U.S. Western District Court of NY.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Buffalo, New York

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 Buffalo, NY 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 New York 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!