Vaccination Injury in Pennsylvania

Have you already sent information about your vaccination injury to VAERS?

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is a joint service of three federal departments. It collects details from patients and helps them understand their options.

Taking this action is only one follow-up step patients in Pennsylvania can take. After reading this article and speaking to legal counsel, you may decide on further action. Begin that process with us today, and we can help you head toward the compensation you have a right to receive.

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania?

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 Pennsylvania vaccination injury lawyers.

Vasovagal Syncope

The CDC reports that syncope (fainting) has a known connection to vaccinations. In particular, it appears to happen more often with adolescents. While this occurrence is mild in itself, more severe problems can arise if an individual falls and harms themselves. Accordingly, vaccination providers in Pennsylvania may have those with higher risks stay up to an hour for observation.

Brachial Neuritis

Two symptoms are typical when a patient in Pennsylvania suffers from brachial neuritis. Pain and muscle weakness due to atrophy are indicators that something went wrong. Generally, around 80% of those who experience it will have symptoms on one side of their body. Bilateral complications are significantly less likely.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania 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?

The details of the vaccine and when you suffered injuries can be critical elements for HRSA petitions. Consequently, patients in Pennsylvania will want to take time to examine the Vaccine Injury Table. This documents what updates to federal law may apply to various circumstances.

Below, we have provided the next three sections as illustrations of your examination of the law may go.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine

Pertussis vaccination is a critical requirement under the Pennsylvania Immunization Program. The primary reasoning is that whooping cough is extraordinarily contagious. As a result, it can quickly spread among a classroom of children in Pennsylvania.

Inoculation for pertussis can become paired with an injection that prevents tetanus. The conditions or injuries that may result and have compensation options through federal law are:

  • Encephalitis
  • Fainting
  • Shoulder Injury
  • Anaphylaxis

Diphtheria

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports only three cases of diphtheria in the state since 1980. Diligent vaccination against the bacteria that causes this disease has had an enormous effect. However, it is also notable that the vaccine does not have coverage under the HRSA program.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

The Pennsylvania Department of Health defines Hepatitis A as an infection of the liver that causes inflammation. As a result, this vital organ can also suffer severe damage. If one of the following conditions applies after your vaccination, you can petition the government for compensation:

  • Fainting less than an hour after receiving the shot
  • Symptoms of a shoulder injury in less than 48 hours

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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania has three federal judiciaries that may adjudicate if you pursue a lawsuit. The U.S. District of the Western, Middle, or Eastern District of Pennsylvania can have jurisdiction.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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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