Vaccination Injury in West Virginia
Jenny McCarthy has become famous for denying the effectiveness of vaccines. While it is never the best option to take your medical advice from celebrities, it is worth noting that vaccines can have certain adverse effects in a very small number of individuals.
Still, if you have been injured during the administration of a vaccine, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced West Virginia attorney. He or she can fight for you as they file your claim.
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 West 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 West 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 West 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 West Virginia vaccination injury lawyers.
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.
Injection Site
The CDC reports that there are several common injuries associated with the administration of a vaccine that occur at the site of vaccination. These are temporary and should dissipate within 48 hours. These injuries include swelling, redness, soreness, muscle pain, and even a rash.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how any West 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
West 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?
Several vaccines are covered by federal law. In addition, Immunize.org lists mandated vaccines, both federally and by state.
Pneumococcal Vaccines
Pneumococcal vaccines protect individuals from any disease that can be produced by streptococcus pneumonia. Still, injections of this vaccine have been known to produce shoulder injuries, often presenting within the first 48 hours. There is also a slight chance of fainting within the first hour after administration.
Polio
Polio, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord functions. It is spread through droplets that pass from one person to another contained in sneezes or coughs. It can also be transmitted by touching infected stool. Polio is easily prevented through vaccination, but there are certain side effects that can accompany this. These side effects can include fever, fatigue, nausea, fainting, and even anaphylaxis.
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 West 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 West 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.
Vaccine injuries are nothing to take lightly. If you have been injured, you may wish to reach out to an experienced attorney in West Virginia. Your attorney will most likely file your case with one of the 2 U.S. District Courts in the state; the Northern District Court, or the Southern District Court.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in West 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 West 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 West 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!
