Vaccination Injury in Philadelphia, PA

Are you familiar with the details of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program?

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia points local patients to the federal administration that handles it. The reason for this recommendation is due to the unusual nature of these lawsuits. While most litigation does not involve a mandatory petition to the federal government, vaccine injuries have to take this route. Plan the direction your situation may take you through this article today.

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. A qualified Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia. 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?

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 should talk to an experienced Philadelphia vaccination injury lawyer.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia defines CIDP as a disorder that damages peripheral nerves and nerve roots. Generally, it causes weakness or paralysis in an arm or leg. Both sides of the body can show symptoms in even rare circumstances.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 4-8 children per 100,000 experience ITP. This condition can be severe because it causes excessive bleeding or easy bruising. Generally, the cause is unknown, and you will need to make a direct connection to vaccine administration.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Philadelphia, PA health professionals administer 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

Philadelphia 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?

A vaccine injury attorney in Philadelphia will have comprehensive answers to these questions. However, you can complete some cursory research using the Vaccine Injury Table.

Anaphylaxis from MMR Vaccine

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia warns that anaphylactic shock can be life-threatening. They assert that it can happen in minutes or hours after exposure to an allergen. The U.S. government takes petitions for anaphylaxis from an MMR vaccine up to four hours after administration.

Encephalitis from MMR Vaccine

The CDC recognizes rare instances where an MMR vaccine can trigger encephalitis. Generally, they find a risk anywhere from four to nine months after vaccination. This statistic is notable because current federal law limits compensation to cases that develop in 5 – 15 days.

Chronic Arthritis from MMR Vaccine

The Institute for Vaccine Safety acknowledges the MMR vaccine has connections to acute or chronic arthritis. This occurrence is rare in children, but adult women have a higher likelihood of injury.

The Vaccine Injury Table limits petitions to incidents 7 – 42 days after administration. But, there may be other legal routes a patient in Philadelphia can take with an attorney.

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 Philadelphia, 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 a qualified Philadelphia 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.

In some circumstances, your attorney might file a civil action with the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. But, most vaccine injury lawsuits from the city will involve the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA 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!