Vaccination Injury in Iowa
Have you reported your vaccine injury in Iowa to VAERS?
Contacting the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is only one option for patients. Your suffering, or harm done to a loved one, could even represent medical negligence. You could sell yourself short without some essential details and speaking to an attorney. We will provide you with critical information and the opportunity to schedule a consultation in the paragraphs below.
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 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 Iowa. 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 Iowa?
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 Iowa vaccination injury lawyers.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPD)
In essence, CRPD is a worsening of the pain someone suffers initially. Many cases in Iowa will be acute, but the possibility of chronic problems persists.
The causes of CRPD continue to be under debate. However, there is a thread of research linking it to nerve damage. If you suffer from this condition, it is possible that the administration of the vaccine caused this type of harm.
Chronic Arthritis
Some vaccines have become linked to painful chronic arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases. For example, one study examined its connection to the SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccines. However, you will want an Iowa vaccination injury attorney familiar with recent precedent before pushing for litigation.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Iowa 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
Iowa 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?
Iowa residents with vaccination injuries have a quick and thorough resource available. The Vaccine Injury Table exists to help you compare your situation to coverage under federal law. Accordingly, you will find some common scenarios of how this works here.
Rotavirus
The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that no treatment exists for rotavirus. The only treatment available is an IV solution to prevent dehydration. Therefore, receiving the vaccine is the most effective way to prevent infection.
While its occurrence is rare, intussusception is a distinct possibility. This terrifying condition happens when intestines intertwine and cause a blockage. If this event happens one to twenty-one days after vaccination, you can submit a claim to the U.S. government.
Pertussis
The Iowa Department of Public Health says the pertussis vaccine loses effectiveness every 5 to 10 years. Accordingly, you may have some familiarity with its side effects.
But, it is worth examining one of the scenarios covered by the PREP Act. If you suffer anaphylaxis within four hours of the administration of the vaccine, you can file for compensation.
Mumps
The Iowa Department of Public Health only reported ten cases of the mumps in 2021. This low rate is the result of the effectiveness of the vaccine. While it is well-studied and safe, suffering one or more of these conditions will justify a claim:
- An allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, four hours after vaccination for mumps
- Passing out, or vasovagal syncope, in less than an hour from receiving the shot
- Shoulder injury from the administration of the vaccine
- Encephalitis, or encephalopathy, five to fifteen days after administration
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 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 an experienced Iowa 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.
There are two federal judiciaries in Iowa that may adjudicate vaccination injury litigation. You may take your case to the U.S. District Court of the Northern or Southern District of Iowa.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Iowa
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 Iowa 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!
