Vaccination Injury in Virginia

Virginia is famous for the Appalachian Trail, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Hokies. There has also been an uptick in vaccination rates for the state. While vaccines are safe and effective, there are still injuries that have occurred during their administration. If this has happened to you, you may want to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Virginia.

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 Virginia 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 Virginia. 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 Virginia?

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 Virginia vaccination injury lawyers.

Bruising and Swelling

The Department of Health and Human Services states that swelling, bruising, pain, and redness at the injection site can be quite common. In fact, they are among the most common side effects of vaccination injuries.  But you should always monitor such developments as they could also be symptoms of allergic reactions.

Fatigue

Fatigue, or chronic fatigue, can often be an adverse side effect of vaccination. While this is nothing to worry about on its own, it can be symptomatic of a much larger problem. The Center for Disease Control reports that among many others, fatigue is listed as an adverse reaction to receiving the covid-19 vaccine.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any Virginia 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

Virginia 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?

Rotavirus

According to the CDC, rotavirus is an incredibly uncomfortable disease. It frequently presents in young children as watery diarrhea, and can become painful as well as risking dehydration. Certain children can develop allergies to the orally administered vaccine. If this occurs, you should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Zoster

The CDC recommends that individuals over the age of 50 receive the Zoster Herpes vaccine to protect against shingles. Shingles is triggered by leftover remnants of the chicken pox virus, and can produce incredibly painful rashes on the body. Side effects from this vaccine can include fever, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, stomach pain, as well as pain at the injection site.

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 Virginia, 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 Virginia 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.

Vaccination injuries are rare, but they are no less devastating. If you have been injured during vaccination, you may want to engage the services of an experienced Virginia attorney. He or she may start your case by filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern or Western Districts.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Virginia

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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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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