Vaccination Injury in Yakima, WA

Do you know how the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) may affect your claims?

Patients with a vaccination injury may need to start with a petition to the U.S. Government. Thanks to a law passed in 1988, this step often has to come before other concerns. While you may have imagined going directly to a civil complaint, you may have to deal with this complicated process first.

As a result, talking to legal counsel in Yakima as early as possible can be a vital decision. Consider the importance this can have in your situation and other considerations through the details in our guide.

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 Yakima, 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 Yakima. 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 Yakima vaccination injury lawyer.

Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is facial paralysis that usually affects only one side of the body. As a result, patients in Yakima may lack control over muscles on the left or right side of the face. According to research from 2021, it is a rare condition for COVID-19 immunizations.

CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy)

CIDP is easy to confuse with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Both conditions cause an autoimmune response that turns the body against its nervous system. But, its defining quality is its slower onset of symptoms in a patient from Yakima.

Vaccination-Related Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries may occur due to how Yakima, 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

Yakima 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 breaks down complex federal law into much simpler terms. The three sections below look at some conditions it says can entitle you to compensation after DTaP vaccinations.

Anaphylaxis and DTaP Vaccines

DTaP vaccines are safe, highly effective, and have rare instances of severe allergic reactions. Allergology International points out that most cases are from those who had previous problems. As a result, patients in Yakima need to share this information with clinicians before immunization. An anaphylactic reaction within four hours has a listing on the Vaccine Injury Table.

Brachial Neuritis and DTaP Vaccines

Studies show that brachial neuritis and other shoulder injuries are standard-of-care problems. The nerve damage and pain typically remain on one side of the body. However, some patients from Yakima may experience bilateral symptoms. Either way, the Vaccine Injury Table allows petitions for symptoms that begin 2 – 28 days from the administration.

Encephalopathy and DTaP Vaccines

The cause of encephalopathy is often unknown. Regardless, case reports suggest a pertussis fraction could contribute to its occurrence.

This inflammation of the brain is usually short-term and treatable for Yakima residents. Currently, federal legislation covers incidents that begin up to 48 hours after DTaP immunization.

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 Yakima, 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 Yakima 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.

Petitions that start through the HRSA depend on the judgment of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Separate lawsuits can go through the U.S. District Court in Yakima.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Yakima, 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 Yakima, 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!