Vaccination Injury in Hawaii
Have you heard of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act?
Do you know if the circumstances of your injury in Hawaii qualify for help from federal programs?
You likely have many questions during this stressful time. Handling the aftermath of any negligence or malpractice can feel shattering. Thankfully, some essential advice and legal counsel can help you piece your life back together.
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. An experienced Hawaii 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 Hawaii . 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 in Hawaii ?
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 may want to speak with Hawaii vaccination injury lawyers.
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
ITP is a condition that occurs when platelets in the blood drop below 100,000/microL. When this happens, children or adults in Hawaii can have problems with excessive bleeding due to a lack of clotting. A few of the symptoms that can result are:
- Nosebleeds
- Bloody stool
- Red or purple dots on the skin
- Purple-colored bruising
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
CIDP can cause significant pain due to two unfortunate events. This neurological disorder causes inflammation at the nerve roots. Additionally, it tears down the fatty layer that shields the nerve fibers. Muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling can only be the start of the problems for a patient in Hawaii.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Hawaii health professional administers 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
Hawaii 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?
There are comprehensive sources available to help patients in Hawaii understand their rights. For instance, the HRSA publishes information about the federal compensation program. We will provide some common vaccines and situations where you can submit a claim below. However, it is critical to note that you may have other options by filing a lawsuit.
Measles (Rubeola)
The measles virus used to be a common scourge in the United States. Since it is an airborne virus, it is highly contagious and can stay in the air for up to two hours. Thankfully, the Department of Health and Human Services says there are 99% fewer cases thanks to vaccinations. The injuries that can happen and have coverage from federal programs for Hawaii residents include:
- Shoulder injuries up to 48 hours from receiving the shot
- Anaphylaxis up to four hours after administration of the vaccine
- Encephalitis 5 to 15 days later
- Vasovagal syncope in an hour or less after vaccination
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Whooping cough is a potentially fatal disease for young children. Accordingly, the Hawaii Department of Health recommends five doses of the vaccine. The injuries that are likely to happen during any such vaccination have coverage according to the current Vaccine Injury Table.
Diphtheria
Patients in Hawaii that suffer diphtheria after vaccination may mistake it for the common cold. But, as it progresses, a distinctively gray pseudomembrane develops across the nose and throat area. Before the development of the vaccine, this disease afflicted many children in America.
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 Hawaii , 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 an experienced Hawaii 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. This determination, and many others, will fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court of the District of Hawaii.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Hawaii
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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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!
