Vaccination Injury in Cedar Rapids, IA
Have you heard that only 22% of Linn County residents received a flu vaccine in 2022?
Getting vaccinated is often the most effective way to prevent serious diseases. Moreover, you help the population around Cedar Rapids stay healthy.
But, when rare complications occur, you may not know where to turn. Discover the possibilities available to you by reading this article 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 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 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 Cedar Rapids. 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 Cedar Rapids vaccination injury lawyer.
Vasovagal Syncope
Vasovagal syncope, or fainting, happens after a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain. It is often a response to the stress associated with receiving a vaccination. Passing out itself is not particularly dangerous unless patients in Cedar Rapids suffer other injuries as a result. For instance, they could land on something hard or sharp without someone nearby to assist them.
Thrombosis
Thrombotic events from vaccinations made headlines in April 2021. The World Health Organization warned of a rare risk for blood clots from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, Cedar Rapids residents will want to note that these events do not have coverage from the HRSA.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Cedar Rapids, IA 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
Cedar Rapids 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?
Assessing your odds for compensation begins with a close look at the Vaccine Injury Table. Combing through this PDF document will tell you what federal law allows currently. For instance, consider the following scenarios that could justify completing a petition with the HRSA.
Meningococcal Vaccines
Mercy Medical Center recommends the meningococcal vaccine to keep your children and family healthy. According to the CDC, mild problems can include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fever and chills
- Joint or muscle pain
However, there are three complications that give a patient in Cedar Rapids good reason to file a petition. Fainting, allergic reactions or shoulder injuries are eligible under the current Vaccine Injury Table.
DTaP Vaccines
The Iowa Department of Public Health reports children should receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine. Once inoculated, patients in Cedar Rapids will have protection against these dangerous diseases:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
The HRSA covers the more common but relatively rare injuries that may occur, like shoulder injuries. Additionally, they can assist with compensation for encephalopathy or brachial neuritis.
MMR Vaccines
The IDPH includes the MMR vaccine as part of its recommended 4:3:1:3:3:1:4 vaccinations. Children under two years old in Cedar Rapids should receive the full series. However, state data suggests only 78.1% in Linn County have completed it.
A rare but terrifying injury that may happen with any vaccination for rubella is intussusception. When this condition happens, the intestines slide into one another and cause a dangerous blockage.
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 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 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 Cedar Rapids 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, lawsuits for vaccine injuries from Cedar Rapids will go to the nearest U.S. District Court.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The purpose of a vaccine is to improve your quality of life by keeping you healthy. Unfortunately, if you suffer an injury after 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 Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Iowa 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!
