Vaccination Injury in Oklahoma

Did you know the Oklahoma State Department of Health has an immunization service?

This arm of the state government monitors compliance and helps educate the public about vaccinations. While they may work hard to ensure quality, mistakes or other circumstances are always possible.

If you or a loved one have suffered a vaccination injury, you likely need some well-educated guidance. Learn from our experience below, and when you feel prepared, we can connect you with an attorney.

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma?

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 Oklahoma vaccination injury lawyers.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

Children’s National reports the cause of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is often unknown. Regardless, there is a known connection to some vaccines. The increased blood flow due to low platelet counts can cause symptoms in patients in Oklahoma like:

  • Bruising
  • Vomiting blood
  • Bleeding from the gums or in the mouth

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome can cause much suffering to patients in Oklahoma. While it can have several causes, vaccination injuries are a well-known factor. A few of the symptoms you can suffer with this condition are:

  • Burning pain
  • Increased sensitivity to stimulation
  • Abnormal swelling at the injection site

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Oklahoma 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

Oklahoma 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?

Federal law allows patients in Oklahoma to submit petitions after vaccination injuries. The conditions they suffer from must match the time limits established by legislation. If this arrangement seems complicated, there is no reason to worry. We have provided examples for evaluating your options in the following sections.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports HPV is the most common STI in the United States. It can go away after a couple of years. However, it also has links to several types of cancers. As a result, vaccination is a wise course of action around 11 to 12 years old.

Despite this Vaccines widespread safety, you can file a petition if one of the following injuries happens:

  • Anaphylaxis up to four hours after vaccine administration
  • Shoulder injuries that present symptoms up to 48 hours after vaccine administration

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Oklahoma State health officials assert those who do not receive the vaccine will likely have chickenpox by adulthood. The disease is highly contagious and can have severe symptoms the older you are when you catch it. However, one of the possible side effects covered by the Vaccine Injury Table is a disseminated form of the virus.

Rotavirus

South Tulsa Pediatrics says the first dose of this vaccine needs to happen within fifteen weeks after birth. The administration of this vaccination is critical to prevent awful symptoms of the disease. But, in rare cases, intussusception can occur. This terrifying condition arises when a bowel blockage happens due to intestines sliding into one another.

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 Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma 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.

Overall, three federal judiciaries in the state can adjudicate claims if you start a lawsuit. The U.S. District Court of the Western, Northern, or Eastern District of Oklahoma may take the case.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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!

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