Teen Getting HPV Vaccine

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If there was a vaccine for cancer, would you take it? In a roundabout way, there’s already a vaccine on the market that offers protection for some cancers: the HPV vaccine (also known as Gardasil). 

The HPV vaccine came on the market in 2006. Since its debut, preteens and young adults who get the vaccine have been protected from HPV infections that can cause serious complications years later.  

While it is effective, the HPV vaccine can (and does) cause adverse reactions and injuries, including shoulder injuries (SIRVA), anaphylactic shock, sudden fainting, and other injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the HPV vaccine, you may be entitled to compensation from a federal fund called the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. Our vaccine injury law firm may be able to help you. Keep reading to learn more about your rights in the VICP. 

What is HPV? 

Here’s a surprising fact: According to the CDC, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in America. There are many different kinds of HPV. A person with HPV can pass the disease to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms. 

Most human papillomavirus infections go unnoticed and clear up within two years, but some can cause symptoms years after becoming infected. HPV can cause genital warts and cancer in both men and women.

As mentioned above, the HPV vaccine (Gardasil) was approved by the FDA in 2006. In December of 2014, Gardasil 9 was approved by the FDA.

Since Gardasil became widely available, the rates of these diseases caused by HPV have dropped significantly. 

Among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by HPV type frequently linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40 percent. And overall, infections of HPV that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 81 percent.    

Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Get the HPV Vaccine? 

You may be wondering, “Is the HPV vaccine safe for me or my child?” And the answer is yes. Aside from mild reactions, there are only a handful of rare long-term side effects associated with the HPV vaccination. At the end of the day, the risks of getting HPV are greater than a potential vaccine reaction. 

The CDC recommends that preteens between the ages of 11 and 12 years should get two doses of the HPV vaccine. These doses must be administered between 6 and 12 months. 

People age 26 and younger should also consider getting the HPV vaccine if they have not been fully vaccinated already. 

The CDC does not recommend adults over the age of 26 receive the HPV vaccine. Some people between the ages of 27 and 45 may choose to get the vaccination after speaking with their doctor. However, it provides adults with fewer benefits, as they may have already been exposed to HPV. 

What Side Effects Are Associated with the HPV Vaccine? 

Serious adverse reactions rarely occur following vaccination. Here are a few possible side effects to watch out for after getting the HPV vaccine: 

  • Redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Nausea
  • Headache

These symptoms are mild and typically go away within a week. If your symptoms persist for a longer period of time, please seek medical treatment. 

What Adverse Reactions and Serious Injuries Are Linked to the HPV Vaccination? 

In very cases, a patient who receives the HPV vaccine will experience a serious reaction. The federal government has acknowledged these risks. As such, they offer compensation to anyone who suffers a long-term injury due to vaccination. 

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, such as Gardasil 9, has been associated with the following adverse side effects, injuries, and reactions:

Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

You read that correctly: You can get a shoulder injury from an HPV vaccine. It’s called SIRVA. 

This injury doesn’t occur from the vaccination itself. It develops because the vaccine was administered incorrectly. 

Oftentimes, SIRVA happens when a vaccine is given too high on the shoulder. As a result, the needle penetrates the shoulder capsule, rather than the deltoid muscle. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments that comprise the shoulder become inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. 

If you have SIRVA from an HPV vaccine, you’ll experience the following symptoms: 

  • Shoulder pain within 48 hours after the vaccine administration. This pain only intensifies with time. Over-the-counter pain medication may only offer temporary relief. 
  • Reduced range of motion. As time progresses, your shoulder may progressively become difficult to move. 
  • Arm pain. Many people with SIRVA experience arm pain as well. 
  • Shoulder inflammation. Your shoulder may be hot to the touch and swollen. 

Patients with SIRVA may be diagnosed with conditions like frozen shoulder syndrome (also known as adhesive capsulitis), shoulder tendonitis, bursitis, rotator cuff injury, or shoulder impingement syndrome. 

If you’d like to learn more about SIRVA, read our blog here. 

Vasovagal Syncope (Sudden Fainting)

You can suddenly faint following an HPV vaccination–but it’s very rare. Vasovagal syncope isn’t dangerous on its own, but it can be dangerous if the patient is standing at the time of the episode. They may injure themselves during the fall. 

Symptoms of vasovagal syncope include nausea, lightheadedness, and being cold to the touch. 

Learn more about fainting after vaccination here. 

Anaphylaxis (Allergic Reaction)

When getting an HPV vaccine, there’s always a risk that you could experience a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction. This condition is known as anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, in the medical community. 

If a patient is starting to go into anaphylactic shock, they will start to show symptoms within four hours following the administration of the HPV vaccine. Here are a few signs to watch for: 

  • Skin reactions, including pale skin or hives.
  • Wheezing or trouble breathing is caused by constriction of the airways and a swollen throat or tongue. 
  • Dizziness or fainting. 
  • Nausea and vomiting. 
  • A weak and rapid pulse. 

Anyone who has anaphylactic shock should go to the nearest hospital or medical treatment facility. Anaphylaxis is easy to treat with an epinephrine (adrenaline) injection. However, it can be deadly if not treated quickly. 

Learn more about anaphylaxis caused by vaccinations here. 

Compensation Is Available for HPV Vaccine Reactions

Suffering from an HPV vaccine injury is not something you have to shoulder alone. There is hope. 

Every year, the government pays compensation to vaccine injury victims from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. This fund is funded by a $0.75 excise tax collected with every vaccine administered. 

At Shannon Law Group, P.C., our vaccine injury attorneys help people like you get the compensation they need to move on after an HPV vaccine injury. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) offers compensation for any out-of-pocket medical expenses, future medical treatment costs, past and future lost wages, and pain and suffering (up to $250,000).

To be eligible for compensation from the VICP, you must meet the following criteria: 

  1. You received the HPV vaccine in the United States. 
  2. Your symptoms from the HPV vaccination lasted more than 6 months. 
  3. You must file a petition within three (3) years from the date of the onset of your symptoms. 

Do I need a vaccine injury lawyer? 

While you do not need an attorney to file a VICP claim, it is strongly recommended that you hire one. Why? 

First, it costs you nothing to hire a vaccine injury attorney. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims pays attorneys directly for the time and costs they spend working on your claim. 

Attorney’s fees are paid separately from your vaccine claim, so what the court awards you is yours to keep. 

Lastly, you can work with any attorney in the country whose licensed in the U.S. Federal Court of Claims. This allows you to pick the best attorney for you, regardless of where their office is located. 

Our attorneys are licensed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, so they can represent anyone with a vaccine injury claim in all 50 states. We have attorneys in Chicago and Phoenix. 

Injured By an HPV Vaccine? Contact a Vaccine Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has suffered from an HPV vaccine injury in the last three (3) years, you may be eligible for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

If you would like to learn more, please call us at 312-578-9501. You can also contact us by filling out the form below. Our consultations are always free, and our representation comes at no cost to our clients when handling HPV vaccine injury cases. The attorneys at Shannon Law Group, P.C. can represent any living in the United States as well.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control, HPV Vaccine Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/hcp/recommendations.html

 

Vaccine Injuries Book

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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.