Vaccination Injury in Indianapolis, IN
Have you heard of VAERS?
This acronym stands for the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. They state that 85 – 90% of the information they receive involves mild to moderate injuries. But they also handle more severe instances like intussusception or anaphylaxis.
Patients that use this system for the first time may not understand the breadth of their options. This lack of experience can mean they miss out on opportunities to petition or litigate. Consider what an Indianapolis vaccination injury attorney can do before making irrevocable decisions.
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 Indianapolis, Indiana 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 Indianapolis. 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 Indianapolis vaccination injury lawyer.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Physiopedia reports that the symptoms of CIDP usually last around two months. This fact means that patients in Indianapolis may experience the following for several weeks:
- Weakness in the arms
- Loss of facial movement
- Problems walking, bending, reaching, or squatting
- Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations in the hands and fingers
Febrile Seizures
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that febrile seizures are more common than others. This fact especially applies to children less than 24 months old in Indianapolis. Regardless, it is worth noting that most pediatric practices only see one case every five to ten years.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Indianapolis, IN 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
Indianapolis 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?
Many victims of vaccine injuries in Indianapolis use the Vaccine Injury Table to determine their eligibility. Your vaccination, condition, and injury must happen within the designated timeline.
Encephalitis from DTaP Vaccine
Researchers made a connection between encephalitis and pertussis vaccines decades ago. As a result, it should not be a surprise that it found its way onto the Vaccine Injury Table.
Studies suggest the incidents after a DTaP vaccine range from 0.0 to 10.5 per one million doses. Accordingly, you need an airtight connection between your encephalopathy and a vaccination.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome from Seasonal Influenza Vaccines
The fear of suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome after a flu vaccine is nothing new. Furthermore, studies from as recently as 2019 continue to recognize the controversies of this subject.
Regardless, this injury has found its way onto the list of covered vaccines with the HRSA. However, the incident needs to happen within 3 – 42 days for patients in Indianapolis to retain eligibility.
Intussusception from Rotavirus Vaccines
There have been extensive studies on the risk of intussusception after a rotavirus vaccination. Generally, there is no elevated risk of this condition within two years of administration. But, cases in Indianapolis that occur 1-21 days later have coverage under current federal law.
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 Indianapolis, Indiana, 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 Indianapolis 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. You could also have your case thrown out of the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Indianapolis, Indiana
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 Indianapolis, IN 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 Indiana 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!
