“Any vaccine can cause side effects.” While all vaccines recommended for use in the U.S. are considered safe for the vast majority of the population (with exceptions for individuals with certain medical conditions), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants vaccine recipients to be aware that certain side effects are possible.
However, the CDC also warns that, “[a]s with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.” Over the past five years, an average of roughly 1,000 people have filed petitions under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). So, while pain may simply be a side effect of a vaccination, it could also be a sign of a potentially-serious injury, and vaccine recipients should have an understanding of when they may need medical attention and when they may be entitled to compensation under the VICP.
What are Signs of a Possible Vaccine Injury?
While a moderate amount of localized pain is normal after a vaccine injection, this pain should generally subside in a matter of hours, though some recipients of certain vaccines may experience lingering pain for a couple of days. In any case, the pain should remain localized at the injection site, and it should not worsen before subsiding.
Severe pain, pain that radiates away from the injection site and pain that is accompanied by other symptoms are all potential signs of a vaccine injury. However, depending upon the specific vaccination, certain other side effects may be normal as well. For example, short-term redness, fatigue and even fever are side effects of multiple vaccinations – meaning that they are not necessarily indicative of a vaccine injury. Other examples of symptoms that are more likely to be signs of a vaccine injury include:
- Bleeding
- Elevated heart rate
- Loss of mobility in the shoulder
- Seizures or convulsions
- Severe fever (105 degrees or higher)
- Tingling (or “pins and needles”) sensations in the extremities
These symptoms may be indicative of vaccine injuries including:
- Anaphylaxis – A severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a particular vaccine ingredient, such as the egg protein found in certain formulations of the flu shot.
- Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) – An autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to damage the nerves and that has been linked to the flu shot and other vaccinations.
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) – A blood disorder that causes issues with clotting and that has been linked to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) – A class of shoulder injuries resulting from immunization errors such as using a wrong-size needle or inserting the needle at an unsafe location on the shoulder.
- Transverse Myelitis – A vaccine injury which causes inflammation of the spinal cord which can potentially lead to long-term or permanent issues, including paralysis.
Speak with a Vaccine Attorney for Free
If you have concerns about a possible vaccine injury, you should seek medical attention immediately. You should also speak with an attorney about your legal rights. To request a free, no-obligation consultation with national vaccine attorney Leah V. Durant, please call 202-800-1711 or contact us online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.