Vaccination Injury in St. Louis, MO

Did you know you may not have to pay your attorney fees for a vaccine injury lawsuit?

Federal programs are available and local attorneys willing to work on contingency for your case. These dedicated attorneys in St. Louis can counsel you during every step you need to take. Furthermore, they will help you avoid any potential pitfalls. Find out more about how this process works below!

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 St. Louis, Missouri 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 St. Louis. 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 St. Louis vaccination injury lawyer.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

CIDP can cause considerable damage to the fatty layer that protects the nerves in your body. There is no complete consensus on treatments for CIDP. However, landmark research for treatments has happened at the Washington University Neuromuscular Disease Center in St. Louis.

Febrile Seizures

St. Louis Children’s Hospital states that febrile seizures happen when a child is six months to five years old. Generally, they are harmless and resolve without any further injury. Emergency help is necessary when one or more of the following occur:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Stiff neck
  • Regular vomiting
  • Seizing lasts longer than 10 minutes

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how St. Louis, MO 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

St. Louis 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?

Several resources are available to a patient from St. Louis who needs to answer this question. The most useful tool for most situations is the Vaccine Injury Table. While this document covers many eventualities, we will look at examples for the DTaP immunization below.

Anaphylaxis After DTaP Vaccines

Allergic reactions to any medication can be a life-threatening complication for a patient in St. Louis. Accordingly, medical professionals recommend seeking immediate medical help. The symptoms that could trigger a trip to the hospital after a DTaP vaccine are:

  • Rash
  • Itching
  • Breathing problems
  • Swelling of the throat or tongue

The Vaccine Injury Table says you can petition if you experience anaphylaxis up to four hours after vaccination.

Encephalitis After DTaP Vaccines

Research indicates that the pertussis portion of the DTaP vaccine has a 1 in 1.7 million rate of encephalitis. This statistic means these cases are extremely rare in places like St. Louis. When it does occur, the Vaccine Injury Table says it needs to be 5 – 15 days from vaccine administration.

Brachial Neuritis After DTaP Vaccines

Brachial neuritis involves nerve damage in the shoulder, and it can be especially painful. As opposed to the ingredients of the vaccine causing issues, this eventuality is likely due to improper technique.

The Mayo Clinic recommends you talk to a doctor in St. Louis quickly if you experience symptoms. Meanwhile, the HRSA can accept petitions when your condition develops in 2 – 28 days.

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 St. Louis, Missouri, 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 St. Louis 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 all probability, evaluating the validity of your petition will fall on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Other civil actions your attorney initiates can depend on the U.S. District Court in St. Louis.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In St. Louis, Missouri

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 St. Louis, MO 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 Missouri 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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