Vaccines serve an important role in modern society. Each year, they prevent millions of illnesses in the United States alone. However, while vaccines offer clear benefits, getting vaccinated carries certain risks as well. All types of vaccines have been linked to injuries and illnesses, and these injuries and illnesses can have devastating effects on vaccine recipients and their families.
Overall, vaccine-related injuries and illnesses are extremely rare. For example, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that for every one million doses of vaccine distributed in the United States, just one vaccine recipient receives compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP). While this statistic only represents successful claims among individuals who choose to seek compensation under the NVICP, it is nonetheless illustrative of the relatively small number of vaccine recipients who suffer injuries and illnesses as a result of their immunizations.
While vaccine-related injuries and illnesses may be rare, they do happen. Each year, hundreds of vaccine recipients and families in Connecticut and across the country receive compensation under the NVICP. More still receive compensation through product liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and class action lawsuits filed against healthcare providers and vaccine manufacturers. If you have been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness, if your child or spouse has been diagnosed, or if you have lost a close loved one following vaccination, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our Connecticut vaccine injury lawyers.
Vaccines and immunizations can cause a variety of different types of illnesses and injuries. In many (but not all) cases, these injuries and illnesses result from adverse reactions to specific vaccine ingredients. For example, one of the most common vaccine-related medical conditions is anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction that can be triggered by the presence of egg protein and other allergenic substances.
However, injuries and illnesses can also result from errors during the immunization process. This means that a person does not have to suffer from an allergy or otherwise respond negatively to a particular vaccine in order to experience a vaccine-related injury or illness. Using a needle that is the wrong size, inserting the needle at an incorrect vein, and various other common mistakes can all cause serious medical conditions irrespective of the specific vaccine being administered. Examples of injuries and illnesses that have been linked to vaccine ingredients and immunization errors include:
Why do we get ourselves and our children vaccinated? While there are a number of different ways to answer this question, perhaps the most straightforward answer is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a variety of vaccinations for children and adults. While all CDC-recommended vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are considered to be safe for most people under most circumstances, it is widely acknowledged that vaccine-related injuries still can – and do – happen. As a Connecticut vaccine injury attorney can explain, this is true of all CDC-recommended vaccines, including:
The process of seeking financial compensation for a vaccine injury or illness will be dependent upon the specific factual circumstances involved. Our Connecticut vaccine lawyers have successfully represented individual vaccine recipients and families in cases involving:
Just like other medications, vaccines have the potential to be defective. When a defective vaccine causes a serious or fatal injury or illness, the vaccine manufacturer deserves to be held fully accountable.
Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, clinics, hospitals, and other health care providers that make mistakes when handling vaccines and performing immunizations will often be liable for medical malpractice.
Negligence on the part of drug manufacturers and other companies can support claims for financial compensation as well. This includes claims for personal injury and wrongful death.
The NVICP is a federal government program that provides financial compensation without evidence of a vaccine defect or negligence. However, various restrictions apply, and filing a successful NVICP claim requires experienced legal representation.
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness? Our Connecticut vaccine injury lawyers are available to speak with you about your case.
Berkowitz Hanna
