Vaccination Injury in New Mexico

Vaccines represent a giant leap forward for human beings, and our society as a whole. They have extended life expectancies, and staved off a harder existence that to us seems like some distant medieval story. Still, there are rare occasions when the administration of a vaccine can cause an injury. If this has happened to you, you may want to contact an experienced attorney in New Mexico.

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico. 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 New Mexico?

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 New Mexico vaccination injury lawyers.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

ITP is a blood disorder characterized by a decrease in platelets. This is according to information provided by Johns Hopkins. This disorder can cause someone to form frequent bruises, as platelets are what causes the blood to clot. This autoimmune response can be triggered in certain individuals during vaccination, but it is still unknown as to why.

Encephalopathy

In some extreme cases, encephalopathy has been triggered through the administration of a vaccine. Encephalopathy can cause memory loss, brain fog, and even dementia if left unchecked. It is currently unknown as to why this has been triggered in rare individuals.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any New Mexico 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

New Mexico 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?

Meningococcal 

Any illness caused by neisseria meningitidis can be prevented through meningococcal vaccines; these are generally administered when a child is 11 to 12 years old, with a booster administered at 16. However, certain side effects are possible such as fevers, chills, nausea, diarrhea. If these persist you should contact a healthcare provider.

Maternal Immunizations

According to the HRSA, vaccines administered to women during pregnancy that result in injury are covered by federal law. Both the flu vaccine and the TDAP vaccine are routinely given to pregnant women, and can cause reactions in certain individuals.

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 New Mexico, 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 New Mexico 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.

If you seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in New Mexico, he or she will help guide your claim through the courts. Most likely your case will be filed with the U.S. District Court of New Mexico.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in New Mexico

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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!