Vaccination Injury in Winston-Salem, NC
Have you looked to see if you are eligible for an HRSA petition since your vaccination injury?
Vaccination injury law has a unique place among other tort actions. For starters, a patient from Winston-Salem may have no choice but to petition the government first. This process can get complex, and you may not always feel sure about the decisions you have to make. Thankfully, you can start to prepare yourself using the information you will find 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 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 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 Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem vaccination injury lawyer.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
The Pain Clinic of North Carolina describes ITP as a disorder that lowers platelet counts in the blood. This condition tends to cause purpura, bruising, and excessive bleeding. Initial indications that a patient in Winston-Salem has it can involve nose or gum bleeds. Most individuals respond well to treatment, but ITP can be a chronic problem.
Thrombosis
The NATF recognizes a connection between the COVID-19 vaccine and blood clots. Admittedly, this problem is rare and is unlikely to affect many Winston-Salem residents. Regardless of the low likelihood, anyone at risk for thrombosis should tell doctors before immunization.
Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Winston-Salem, NC 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
Winston-Salem 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?
Patients who experienced adverse reactions in Winston-Salem can turn to the Vaccine Injury Table. It makes it easy to find the options available for different vaccines and conditions. For example, assume that you had an issue with a flu vaccination. Most of the injuries listed in this critical document for this immunization are below.
Anaphylaxis and Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccines
The seasonal flu vaccine is safe enough that even those with egg allergies can receive it. Moreover, the incident rate is currently around 1 per 1.35 million doses administered.
Most patients in Winston-Salem with complications will experience them within minutes to a few hours later. Currently, the government can accept petitions for instances in four hours or less.
Vasovagal Syncope and Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccines
The rate of fainting incidents is significantly higher among adolescents. According to the CDC, 62% of the cases reported to VAERS involved 11 – 18 year-olds.
Regardless of the statistics, adults can experience vasovagal syncope during immunizations also. Accordingly, the HRSA can accept petitions for incidents within an hour after flu vaccine administration.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccines
The Clinical Infectious Diseases journal says that GBS is so rare it is difficult to estimate its risk. It has seen a few increases in occurrences during swine flu breakouts. Regardless, it remains an uncommon problem for those who receive a seasonal influenza immunization in Winston-Salem.
As for coverage under federal law, there is a brief window of time after administration for petitions. The Vaccine Injury Table gives this vaccine and condition 3 – 42 days from the administration for indemnification.
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 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 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 Winston-Salem 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.
Judging the validity of a claim from Winston-Salem is often up to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Depending on your attorney’s advice, there could be other claims to take to the U.S. District Court in Salem.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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 Winston-Salem, NC 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 North Carolina 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!
