Vaccination Injury in Illinois

Are you aware of your rights as a victim of a vaccination injury in Illinois?

Do you know about the federal “no-fault” program that may give you compensation?

You may not feel like you can find the help you need today. But there may be more options available than you think. Discover how you can help yourself or your loved one handle this unfortunate time through this article.

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 Illinois 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 Illinois . 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 Illinois ?

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 Illinois vaccination injury lawyers.

Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a rare but growing concern during the administration of vaccines. Its most distinctive symptom is a sudden onset of weakness on one side of the face. Thankfully, this condition should only last a few weeks in patients from Illinois.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis refers to a significant swelling in the optic nerve. Evidence suggests that it can occur within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. While this condition is also rare among Illinoisans, it can have a direct link to a vaccination injury.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Illinois 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

Illinois 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?

The following paragraphs detail some vaccines and their associated injuries recognized by the HRSA. Reading each example will give anyone in Illinois a clear example of how to check their eligibility. Moreover, this information correlates with the most recent Vaccine Injury Table.

Pneumococcal Conjugate 

Pneumococcal bacteria can cause several severe conditions in adults or children from Illinois. As reported by the CDC, children under two years old and adults over 65 have the highest risks. Injuries they might suffer that have eligibility for claims include shoulder injuries and passing out.

Rubeola (Measles)

Rubeola is an extremely contagious disease that can remain in the nose and throat. According to WebMD, you have a 90% chance of catching measles in a room with someone who has it.

These conditions make the proliferation of the vaccine critical for protecting the public. Thankfully, Illinois only had 43 cases from 2010 – 2020. If you or a loved one suffer from one of the following, you may have a civil claim to file:

• Encephalopathy

• Vasovagal syncope

• Shoulder injuries

• Anaphylaxis

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

People often think of chickenpox as a childhood disease. However, adults are at high risk of experiencing significant complications also.

As a result, the IDPH lists its vaccine as a minimum requirement for child care enrollment. But, some complications may not qualify for federal assistance.

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 Illinois , 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 Illinois 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.

The judiciary that will make this determination and adjudicate your case depends on your location. Illinois currently has three federal courts spread throughout the state. The U.S. District Court of the Northern, Central, or Southern District of Illinois may accept the civil complaint.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Illinois

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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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!