Meningococcal Vaccine

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For most people, the meningococcal vaccine helps prevent meningococcal disease, which can progress into meningitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), meningitis is a serious and sometimes deadly infection of the lining the brain and spinal cord. 

Despite its many benefits, meningococcal vaccinations have been linked to severe adverse side effects and reaction. These vaccine injuries include shoulder injuries (SIRVA), Vasovagal Syncope (sudden fainting), and anaphylaxis. 

In this article, we will answer frequently asked questions about the meningococcal vaccine, its side effects, and how to get compensation following an injury following a meningitis vaccine.

If you or someone you love was injured after a meningococcal vaccine, you may be eligible for compensation from the federal government under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Our vaccine injury lawyers are ready to help you navigate this process. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Call now at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the form on this page to get started. 

However, we understand if you’re not ready to speak with one of our attorneys just yet. Keep reading to learn more about meningitis vaccination reactions. 

H3: What is Meningococcal Disease and Meningitis? 

Meningococcal disease is a serious and life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. There are 12 different serogroups of this bacteria. Serogroups A, B, C, W, X, and Y account for most of the cases of meningococcal disease. 

Symptoms of meningococcal disease come on quickly, starting with a high fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and/or lethargy. If left untreated, this infection can develop into meningitis, which is deadly for some. 

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Some cases of meningitis can be serious and require emergency antibiotic treatment. Delayed treatment may increase the risk of permanent brain damage or death.

What Types of Meningococcal Vaccines Are Available? 

There are two types of meningococcal vaccines on the market: 

  • Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY vaccines. The current meningococcal vaccines available are Menactra, Menveo, and MenQuadfi. 
  • Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccinations. The current MenB vaccines on the market are Bexsero and Trumenba. 

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

The CDC recommends that all children between the ages of 11 and 12 should get a MenACWY vaccination. They should also receive a meningitis booster shot at age 16. 

Other children and adults who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease should also consider getting vaccinated. 

Most people should get the meningococcal vaccine. However, there are a few exceptions: 

  • If you or your child have had a life-threatening allergic reaction or have a severe allergy to the meningococcal vaccine. 
  • If you or your child are not feeling well on the day of vaccination. 

What are the Common Side Effects of Meningococcal Vaccinations

Meningitis vaccines are generally safe. Most people have only mild to moderate side effects that go away within a few days to a week. Other people report no adverse reactions. 

When you receive a meningococcal vaccine, you will likely experience the following mild symptoms: 

  • Redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site 
  • Headache
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Fever or chills
  • Fatigue 
  • Nausea and/or diarrhea

Can the Meningitis Shot Cause Serious Vaccine Injuries? 

In very rare cases, someone may suffer a severe injury as a result of a meningococcal vaccine. Their symptoms may last for several months to years. 

Throughout this section, we explore serious meningitis vaccine injuries that the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has recognized. If your injury is not listed below, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation as well. 

The VICP has acknowledged the meningitis vaccine can trigger three conditions: Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), sudden fainting (Vasovagal Syncope), and anaphylactic shock. Below, we explore the symptoms associated with these vaccine injuries, as well as what to expect if you’re diagnosed with one. 

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Any injection, including the meningococcal vaccines, can cause a shoulder injury. SIRVA injuries can happen when a vaccination is given too high, too deeply, or at the wrong angle in the shoulder. 

Instead of being administered into the deltoid muscle, the meningitis vaccine is inserted into the shoulder capsule. Inflammation sets in, irritating the surrounding shoulder tendons, ligaments, nerves, and a fluid-filled sac called the bursa. 

What are the telltale symptoms of SIRVA you should watch out for? There are four common signs of a shoulder injury following a meningococcal vaccination: 

  • Severe shoulder pain within 48 hours of vaccination. This pain often doesn’t go away in a SIRVA patient’s shoulder for weeks or months without proper treatment. The pain may keep you up at night. 
  • Inflammation and swelling of the shoulder area. Your shoulder may be tender or hot to the touch for several weeks. 
  • Reduced range of motion in the affected shoulder joint. As time passes, patients often lose range of motion in their injured shoulders. Tasks like raising their hands above their head are suddenly difficult.  
  • Tingling, shooting, or burning sensations that travel down your arm. These nerve pains happen when shoulder joint inflammation pinches nerves in that area. 

If you have any of the above symptoms of SIRVA following a meningococcal vaccine, please seek treatment as soon as possible. 

When you see your doctor, he or she will order several tests to determine the extent of your shoulder injury. They may diagnose you with one of the following SIRVA-related injuries: 

  • Frozen Shoulder Syndrome (Adhesive Capsulitis) 
  • Rotator Cuff Injury or Tear 
  • Shoulder Bursitis 
  • Shoulder Tendonitis 

Learn more about shoulder injuries from vaccines here. 

Sudden Fainting (Vasovagal Syncope) 

Although rare, sudden fainting can occur following the administration of a meningitis vaccine. This condition is also called vasovagal syncope. 

People who experience this condition will lose consciousness a few minutes to several hours after the vaccine is given. They show a few warning signs before fainting, such as feeling lightheaded or pale skin. 

The fainting itself isn’t dangerous–it’s what could happen after fainting that is. If the patient is standing when they faint, they could seriously injure themselves. The most common injury associated with fainting is a head injury. 

To prevent an injury due to vaccine-related fainting, sit down if you’re feeling lightheaded or ill after vaccination. 

Click here to find out more about sudden fainting from vaccination. 

Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction) 

Any vaccine or medicine can trigger a severe allergic reaction in a small percentage of people. People can be allergic to certain ingredients in meningococcal vaccines. 

Anyone who has experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction after a prior dose of meningitis vaccine should not receive further doses.

A severe allergic reaction, or anaphylactic shock, can develop within four hours after receiving a meningococcal vaccine. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include dizziness, fainting, a weak and rapid pulse, constriction of the airways, swollen tongue or throat, wheezing and trouble breathing, hives, and more. 

If addressed quickly, anaphylaxis rarely leaves any lasting symptoms. However, if treatment is delayed, the patient can become seriously injured or pass away. 

Learn more about severe allergic reactions from vaccines here. 

How to Get Compensation for a Meningococcal Vaccine Injury 

After an injury from a meningococcal vaccine, where do you go from here? 

The good news is that the federal government established a unique, no-fault program called the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The program offers compensation to petitioners who suffer a vaccine injury from a covered vaccination. 

Petitioners also must meet specific criteria in order to be eligible for compensation from the VICP. This includes: 

  • Petitioners must file a vaccine injury claim within three (3) years of the onset of their symptoms. The clock starts ticking from the moment your symptoms start. Discovery rule does not apply for these claims. 
  • Petitioners must have also received a vaccine that is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. These vaccinations include any vaccines recommended by the CDC for children and pregnant women. The meningococcal vaccine is covered by the VICP. 
  • Petitioners must have received the vaccine in the United States to be eligible for compensation (with a few exceptions). 
  • Before filing a claim, the Petitioner’s vaccine injury symptoms must have lasted for more than six (6) months or resulted in in-patient hospitalization. 

If a claimant meets the above criteria, they can then proceed with drafting a petition and filing a claim.

Let’s say the government concedes that the vaccine did, in fact, cause your injury. You would then negotiate how much compensation you deserve. 

Under the VICP, you can be awarded the following types of damages: 

  • Out-of-pocket medical bills and deductibles. 
  • Future medical care costs. 
  • Past and future lost wages. 
  • Pain and suffering (up to $250,000)

At Shannon Law Group, P.C., our vaccine injury attorneys handle everything from drafting our clients’ petitions to resolving their claims.

Should You Hire a Vaccine Injury Lawyer? 

The VICP does not require that you hire an attorney to assist with your vaccine injury claim. However, they strongly encourage it. 

Why? Because the federal government recognizes you need someone in your corner to help you pursue a successful claim. 

It also costs you nothing to hire a vaccine injury law firm like Shannon Law Group, P.C. The government compensates us independently for our time working on your claim. Whatever the government awards you is yours to keep. 

We will also never send you any bills or invoices associated with your claim. 

As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring a vaccine injury attorney to help you with your claim. 

Speak with a Meningococcal Vaccine Injury Attorney Today

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

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 meningitis vaccine injury cases. Our attorneys can represent anyone living in the United States as well.

Vaccine Injuries Book

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.