Vaccination Injury in Durham, NC

Durham residents can rest easy knowing that vaccines are safe, reliable, and have helped move humanity forward by eliminating certain diseases that robbed people of their children. However, there are times, albeit rare, when a vaccine causes an injury. If this is the cae, you may want to seek out an experienced attorney in Durham.

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 Durham, North Carolina 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 Durham. 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 Durham vaccination injury lawyer.

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Yale Medicine confirms that, despite the momentary discomfort, swollen lymph nodes is a perfectly ordinary side effect of the administration of a vaccine. Your immune system is processing the vaccine, which generally contains inert viruses, and formulating your body’s response to any possible future attack.

Seizures

The CDC states that there is a small increase of risk for seizures when administering certain types of vaccines, specifically MMR and MMRV vaccines. While 5% of children will experience a febrile seizure between the ages of 1 and 5, this risk increases slightly with the administration of the vaccine. It generally occurs within 5 to 12 days of receiving the first dose.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Durham, NC 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

Durham 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?

Measles

An acute viral infection that affects the respiratory system, Measles was thought to have been nearly eradicated in the early part of the 21st century. But anti-vaccination movements have allowed it to regain some strength. The vaccine for this virus has severely hampered its ability to infect the population, however there can be side effects. An MM, MMR, or MMRV vaccine could potentially cause anaphylaxis, encephalitis, or vasovagal syncope.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection, generally spread through infected bodily fluids. The Mayo Clinic states that if left unchecked, the virus attacks the liver and can leave it scarred, as well as increasing the chances of developing terminal liver illnesses. Administration of the vaccine can also possibly cause:

• Shoulder injury

• Vasovagal syncope

• Anaphylaxis

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 Durham, North Carolina, 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 Durham 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.

North Carolina has 3 U.S. District Courts. However, if you choose to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Durham, he or she will most likely file your claim with the U.S. Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Durham, North Carolina

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 Durham, NC 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 North Carolina 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!