Vaccination Injury in Tacoma, WA
Despite the insistence of some well-known celebrities, vaccines are generally safe and effective for all who receive them. However there are instances where individuals develop an injury or health problem when receiving a vaccine. If this is the case for you, or someone you love, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney in Tacoma.
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 Tacoma, Washington 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 Tacoma. 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 Tacoma vaccination injury lawyer.
Chills
Honor Health states that a frequent side effect of multiple vaccines can be body chills. Chills, shivering, and a general malaise can occur when receiving a vaccine. This should pass within 24 to 48 hours. If it does not subside, you may want to contact a healthcare provider.
Shallow Breathing
The Department of Health and Human Services states that in some rare cases, an individual can experience shallow breathing after receiving a vaccine treatment. This can also be accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and sweating. If this happens you should seek experienced medical attention.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Tacoma, WA 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
Tacoma 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?
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.
MeningococcalÂ
Any illness caused by neisseria meningitis can be prevented through meningococcal vaccines. These are generally administered when a child is 11 to 12 years old, with a booster administered at 16. However, certain side effects are possible such as fevers, chills, nausea, diarrhea. If these persist you should contact a healthcare provider.
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 Tacoma, Washington, 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 Tacoma 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 should be taken seriously, as they can result in serious bodily harm if left unattended. If you have been injured, you may wish to reach out to an experienced attorney in Tacoma. Your attorney will most likely file your case with the U.S. Court for the Western District of Washington.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Tacoma, Washington
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 Tacoma, WA 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 Washington 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!