Our Vaccine Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Fight for You
If you or someone you love was injured by a vaccination, our vaccine injury lawyers may be able to help you obtain compensation from the federal government.
As you probably know, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends immunizations for most groups of people starting in childhood, and these injections protect millions of Americans from dangerous diseases every year.
Though vaccines are widely regarded as safe, in the 1980s, Congress recognized in the 1980s that vaccines can cause serious adverse reactions. To address this issue, a national compensation program was founded to help those injured by a vaccine. Our experienced attorneys at Shannon Law Group, P.C., help vaccine injury victims obtain the compensation they need to continue their medical care and pay the bills.
Vaccinations are far from perfect. In some cases, they do more harm than good. As with any medication, it is possible to experience a wide range of side effects. Vaccines can result in lifelong illnesses, conditions, and rehabilitation.
Helping Vaccine Injury Victims in All 50 States
If you believe you were injured by an injection, contact our national vaccine injury lawyers today at (312) 578-9501 for a free case review. You may be eligible for compensation through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
If you have more questions about the VICP and how you can obtain compensation, scroll down to the FAQ section on this page.
Contact Us Today for A Free Vaccine Injury Case Review
Download your free copy of Vaccine Injuries: Understanding the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by attorney Jonathan Svitak.
In this publication, Jonathan explains the history of this unique federal program and answers some of your most frequently asked questions about vaccine injury cases.
What Is a Vaccine Injury?
When you receive a vaccine, you've likely experienced mild side effects, like a fever or body aches. Unlike these symptoms, a vaccine injury happens when you experience a significant reaction to an immunization.
This is not a complete list of vaccine injuries. If you have suffered any serious medical issue you think maybe a result of a recent vaccination, you may be entitled to compensation. Any reaction that negatively affects your ability to continue your life as it was before the vaccine can be considered an injury. Our experienced vaccine injury attorneys can examine your case and chart the best way forward.
Common Vaccine Injuries and Severe Side Effects Include:
- SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Resulting from Vaccine Administration)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Brachial Neuritis
- Transverse Myelitis
- Intussusception
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia
- Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
- Encephalitis
Other Adverse Reactions Linked to Vaccinations:
- Death
- Encephalopathy
- Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
- Seizures
- Chronic arthritis
- Vasovagal syncope (fainting)
- Vaccine-strain measles viral disease
- Paralytic Polio
- Vaccine-strain polio viral infection
What Types of Vaccines Cause Injuries & Adverse Reactions?
Several injuries and reactions have been linked to many vaccines. However, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program only provides compensation to people who receive specific vaccines in the United States. Generally, all vaccinations listed on the childhood vaccination schedule are covered.
Below, we have listed all vaccines that are covered and are not covered by the VICP.
Vaccines Covered by the VICP:
- Tetanus vaccines (e.g., DTaP, TD, DTP, Td, or TT)
- Pertussis shots (e.g, DTP, DTaP, P, DTP-Hib)
- Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines (e.g., MMR, MM, MMRV)
- Polio vaccinations (e.g., OPV, IPV)
- Hepatitis B vaccines - Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, Twinrix
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) injections
- Varicella vaccines - Varivax Chickenpox Virus Vaccine, ProQuad
- Rotavirus vaccinations - Rota Teq
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines - Prevnar
- Seasonal flu shots - FluMist, FluShield, Fluvirin, Fluzone, Afluria
- Meningococcal vaccines - Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (MPSV4), Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4), Menactra
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations - Gardasil, Cervarix
Vaccinations NOT Covered under the VICP:
- Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV, PPV)
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine)
- Anthrax
- Rabies
- Smallpox
- Yellow Fever
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Pneumovax 23
- Typhoid Fever
Do I Have a Vaccine Injury Case?
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program outlines criteria you generally must meet to have a successful vaccine injury case. Here are three things your case must have to increase your chances of recovering compensation:
#1: FILE YOUR PETITION ON TIME
First, you need to file your petition for compensation within three (3) years of the onset of your symptoms. This deadline applies even if you didn’t know at the time that your symptoms occurred as a result of a vaccine.
If someone you love passed away due to a vaccine reaction, you have two (2) years from the date of death and four (4) years from the date of the onset of their symptoms to file a petition for vaccine injury compensation.
Because of these strict statutes of limitations, we encourage anyone who believes they were injured by a vaccine to contact a vaccine injury law firm like Shannon Law Group as soon as possible.
#2: RECEIVE A COVERED VACCINE
To be eligible for compensation from the VICP, you must have received a vaccination covered by the program in the United States. We listed all covered vaccines in the question above. Scroll up to take a look.
#3: YOUR VACCINE INJURY LASTS MORE THAN 6 MONTHS
Before you file your petition, you must have experienced vaccine injury symptoms for more than 6 months. The only exception to this rule is if you had surgery due to your vaccine reaction, such as intussusception.
Find out if you have a case. Contact Us Today.
If you're not sure whether you have a vaccine injury case, our attorneys would be more than happy to speak with you. Call us at (312) 578-9501 or fill out our contact form here to get started.
How Does the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Work?
In 1986, the United States government set up the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This program offers a no-fault path to compensation for vaccine injury victims, as opposed to suing their doctors or vaccine manufacturers.
Why was the VICP created? Before 1986, the only way to receive compensation after a vaccine injury was to sue pharmaceutical companies. After a few decades, these companies threatened to stop manufacturing vaccinations altogether. The government then recognized that everyone needed to have access to vaccines, while also having a path to financial compensation if they suffered a rare side effect.
Instead of filing a lawsuit, the vaccine-injured party files a petition for compensation in the U.S. Federal Court of Claims. While you can represent yourself, the Program often recommends hiring a vaccine injury attorney to represent you.
The VICP is managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In vaccine court, HHS is represented by a lawyer from the Department of Justice (DOJ), who appears on HHS’s behalf. This attorney will review your filed petition and writes a report, either conceding or disputing your vaccine injury.
Ultimately, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and its Office of Special Master will have the final say. A “Special Master” will be assigned to your case, serving as the judge.
Compensation Is Available to Vaccine Injury Victims
When a vaccine negatively impacts your life, you can receive compensation. Even what some may consider a minor reaction, or one that is treated and resolved, can still significantly impact your life and livelihood.
When your efforts to maintain and preserve your health are met with unintended, harmful repercussions, you do not have to suffer alone. Victims can pursue a case with the U.S. Court of Claims, which runs the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a no-fault alternative to obtaining compensation.
You may be eligible for the following types of compensation:
1. Pain and suffering
2. Lost wages (including future wages)
3. Past out-of-pocket medical expenses
4. Future medical needs
Pursuing a case in a federal court may seem daunting, but our experienced vaccine injury attorneys at Shannon Law Group, P.C., have helped others just like you prepare and present an effective case.
While you focus on recovery and rebuilding your life, we will obtain records, file court documents, gather evidence, interview experts, and present your story in an effective and compelling way.
If you or someone you love has suffered a vaccine injury, you deserve compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Call the dedicated lawyers at Shannon Law Group, P.C., today at 312-578-9501 or toll-free at 886-881-9980 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. If you prefer, take a moment to fill out our online contact form, and you’ll receive a prompt response from one of our attorneys who can help answer your questions.
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