The debate about the effects and risks of vaccines is ongoing. But one fact cannot be ignored: there’s a real possibility of getting injured from having a vaccine.
A vaccine can cause major side effects, often with worse results than the disease it’s intended to prevent. Vaccine injuries vary from mild to severe and temporary to permanent.
If you have suffered injuries because of vaccines, a vaccine injury lawyer can assist you to file for compensation with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This is a lengthy process with many steps involved before your claim will be considered. Lawyers will guide you to make sure you receive compensation for the amount you deserve. You can get help from a competent team of lawyers at https://www.vaccineinjuryhelpcenter.com.
There are many vaccines and each can lead to devastating injuries. In this article, we’ll explore a few popular vaccines and talk about the possible injuries you can get from them.
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Rotavirus Vaccine
The Rotavirus causes intestinal discomfort and diarrhea and mostly affects children younger than five years old. Although older children and adults can suffer from it too, symptoms are less severe for them.
Your digestive system is vital to your overall wellness. A Rotavirus vaccination can cause obstructions in your child’s intestines and allergic reactions. In worse case scenarios, obstructed intestines get torn and can lead to death. This vaccine is especially dangerous because it’s mostly given to infants as young as two months old.
Symptoms include a high fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration. These symptoms can occur two days after your child was vaccinated.
2. Tetanus Vaccines
Tetanus is a bacterial infection that causes muscle spasms. It's also known as lockjaw because it often begins in the jaw before spreading throughout the body.
The bacteria in a tetanus vaccine releases poison into your body, and that’s what causes eventual intense pain. Although tetanus causes much discomfort, the possible allergic reactions to a tetanus shot may be more damaging.
Within the first four hours of receiving the shot, you can struggle to breathe and experience excruciating stomach pains. After 72 hours, you may have trouble thinking straight and be at risk of brain damage.
3. Pertussis Vaccines
Pertussis is also known as whooping cough or the 10-day cough. It’s a bacterial infection of the respiratory system which causes violent coughing.
Vaccines containing pertussis bacteria, such as Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP), can cause intense inflammation of the nerves.
You can experience flu-like symptoms that include high temperature, sneezing, and dizziness. Once the coughing starts, it leaves you gasping for air; and when you try to breathe in, you experience wheezing. This is because your airways become inflamed. Your shoulder and arm nerves become painful and swollen. The term for this injury is Bronchial Neuritis and appears 2–28 days after getting the vaccination.
4. Rubella Vaccines
Rubella is popularly known as German Measles, or the 3-day measles. It causes a distinctive red rash when it infects your body.
Besides the infection, rubella vaccines can cause arthritis. This condition entails the swelling of joints. It can cause intense pain in your wrists, arms, and knees, usually within 21 days of receiving vaccination. The arthritis can last for years.
Symptoms if the rubella infection include a rash that starts on the face before spreading to the rest of the body, inflamed lymph nodes and glands, and a spike in body temperature. This can occur within 2–3 weeks of exposure.
5. Measles Vaccines
Measles is a viral infectious disease commonly found in children. When a person with measles coughs or sneezes, highly contagious droplets spread in the air.
The measles vaccine can cause a condition that stops the body from bleeding. The vaccine can lower a body’s platelet cell count and compromise the immune system’s ability to fight future diseases. A common symptom of a low count of platelet cells in your body is unexplained bruising. It can appear within 7–30 days after receiving the vaccination.
6. Influenza (Flu) Vaccines
Influenza, more referred to as the flu, is a viral infection that causes a high fever, body aches, sneezing, coughing and inflamed airways.
Flu vaccines can cause injuries such as seizures, optic neuritis, and brachial neuritis. A severe reaction to a flu vaccine can occur within 1–3 days and must be acted upon immediately.
Injury Prevention
Sometimes injuries can be prevented; but in other cases, it’s beyond your control. If you find yourself injured as a result of vaccination, contact a vaccine injury lawyer to help you claim for compensation.
To prevent vaccine-related injuries, follow these guidelines:
- Research the vaccine you or your child will receive. Use the information to decide if the vaccine will contribute to or hinder your health.
- Have your vaccinations done at official and registered vaccination centers such as hospitals and clinics.
- You must know the ingredients and products you are allergic to. This will help the healthcare practitioner to make an informed decision about administering a vaccine for you or your child.
- Know your family history. It will indicate whether certain vaccines have caused severe reactions in your family.
Conclusion
Vaccine injuries are possible and can occur when you least expect it. It’s important to research different vaccines and the effects they may have.
If you get injured, you can claim for compensation with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Although the process can be lengthy and complicated, working with a competent lawyer can help you file a successful claim.
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