Vaccination Injury in Vermont

Vermont conjures images of a secluded paradise, quietly nestled away in New England; enjoying a picture portrait of snow covered mountains. However, we are able to enjoy such moments in life due to the quality of life provided to us by vaccines.

While vaccines are safe and effective, there are still individuals who react poorly to them, or are injured when receiving them. If this has happened to you, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced Vermont attorney to help fight for you.

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 Vermont 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 Vermont. 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 Vermont?

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 Vermont vaccination injury lawyers.

Maternal Immunizations

According to the HRSA, vaccines administered to women during pregnancy that result in injury are covered by federal law. Both the flu vaccine and the TDAP vaccine are routinely given to pregnant women, and can cause reactions in certain individuals.

Muscle Pain

The CDC states that while many vaccines have the ability to cause temporary side effects, one of the more common side effects is muscle pain. Soreness in the muscles at the injection site, as well as a general soreness throughout the body can occur when your body is adjusting to the vaccination.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Vermont 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

Vermont 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 Vaccine Injury Table gives a comprehensive look at the different injuries that can be associated with certain vaccines. It also lists a timeframe to measure these injuries. If symptoms fall within the timeframe, it is assumed that the vaccine caused the injury.

Typhoid

Typhoid is listed as one of the recommended vaccinations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Typhoid is a highly contagious bacteria that can be spread through food and water, or through infected waste. It is preventable through vaccination, however, the vaccine can cause fever, headache, abdominal pain, and swelling for certain individuals.

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 Vermont, 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 Vermont 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.

Your experienced attorney in Vermont will most likely file your vaccination injury case with the U.S. District Court of Vermont.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Vermont

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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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!