Vaccination Injury in Portland, OR

Portland residents can rest secure in the knowledge that when they get their flu shots, or Covid-19 vaccines, they are the recipient of safe and effective technology that makes life better for everyone. However, there are times that certain individuals experience an injury while being vaccinated. If this is the case for you, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced Portland 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. A qualified Portland, Oregon 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 Portland. 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 Portland vaccination injury lawyer.

Muscle Spasms

Sudden and uncontrollable spasming can be a side effect of certain vaccinations. Science Direct states that muscle spasms were one of the temporary side effects when an individual had a reaction to the Covid-19 vaccine. This should persist no longer than 24 to 48 hours.

Headache

While the Department of Health and Human Services stresses that headaches are very common after receiving a vaccine, they should not be taken lightly. A headache that dissipates soon after the vaccination is very common, but a persistent headache can be the sign of a deeper problem. Headaches that persist should be reported to a physician immediately.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Portland, OR 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

Portland 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.

Mumps

Mumps is spread through infected saliva, and causes swelling of the saliva and parotid glands. It can also cause fevers, fatigue, and loss of appetite. While preventable through vaccination, the vaccine may also cause injury, albeit very rare. Vaccination injuries with mumps consist of shoulder injuries, anaphylaxis, and in very rare cases, encephalopathy.

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 A

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus generally spread through contact with an infected person, or ingesting food or drink contaminated with the virus. It attacks the liver and can cause nausea, fatigue, and jaundice. It is vaccine preventable, but the vaccine causes shoulder pain, and vasovagal syncope 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 Portland, Oregon, 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 Portland 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.

Vaccine injuries can be life threatening if left unattended. You should always be aware that symptoms could be signs of a larger injury. If you have been injured during the administration of a vaccine, it may be your next best step to contact an experienced Portland attorney. He or she may begin by filing your case with the U.S. District Court for Oregon.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Portland, Oregon

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 Portland, OR 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 Oregon 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!