Vaccination Injury in North Carolina

Tom Cruise makes great films, so if you’re wondering about filmmaking; he’s your go to guy. If you’re wondering about vaccines, you should probably steer clear. Vaccines are safe, reliable, and have helped move humanity forward by eliminating certain diseases that robbed people of their children. However, there are times, albeit rare, when a vaccine causes an injury. If this is the cae, you may want to seek out an experienced attorney in North Carolina.

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?

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 North Carolina vaccination injury lawyers.

Vasovagal Syncope

The Mayo Clinic lists vasovagal syncope as a fainting condition wherein the body passes out due to certain triggers. These triggers, such as stress, cause blood pressure and heart rate to drop suddenly. The resulting lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain causes your body to shut down temporarily.

Swelling

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, swelling is a common side effect of vaccination. This generally presents at the injection site. However, there are instances of swelling of the face and throat that are warning signs of a severe allergic reaction. If this happens you should immediately contact a healthcare provider, or call 9-1-1.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any North Carolina 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

North Carolina 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?

While it is a rare occurrence, vaccines can still be responsible for insuring an individual. The Health Resources and Services Administration provides information on vaccines that are federally covered.

Measles

Measles is an acute viral infection that affects the respiratory system. The vaccine for this virus has severely hampered its ability to infect the population, however there can be side effects. An MM, MMR, or MMRV vaccine could potentially cause anaphylaxis, encephalitis, or vasovagal syncope.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection, generally spread through infected bodily fluids. The Mayo Clinic states that if left unchecked, the virus attacks the liver and can leave it scarred, as well as increasing the chances of developing terminal liver illnesses. Administration of the vaccine can also possibly cause:

• Shoulder injury

• Vasovagal syncope

• Anaphylaxis

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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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.

North Carolina has 3 U.S. District Courts where your experienced attorney may choose to file your claim. These are the Eastern, Western, and Middle District Courts.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in North Carolina

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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!