Leah Durant | Vaccine Attorney - Vaccine Blog

How common are vaccine-related injuries and illnesses? While there are several ways to answer this question, perhaps the most straightforward answer is that these injuries and illnesses are extremely rare in comparison to the number of vaccines administered in the United States each year. In this article, vaccine attorney Leah V. Durant discusses some key statistics and highlights the most-common vaccine-related injuries and illnesses based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

While vaccine injuries are relatively rare, they do happen. Each year, the federal government’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) receives approximately 5,000 reports of serious vaccine injuries, and hundreds of individuals and families receive compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

The VICP is an important federal program that provides a source of financial recovery to individuals and families who are coping with the effects of vaccine injuries.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) serves as a source of financial recovery for individuals and families impacted by vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. But, not all vaccines are covered under the program. In this article, vaccine injury attorney Leah V. Durant explains which immunizations are “covered vaccines” under the VICP.

“Covered Vaccines” Listed on the VICP’s Vaccine Injury Table

“Covered vaccines” under the VICP are listed on the program’s Vaccine Injury Table.

The flu shot is the most widely administered vaccine in the United States. Approximately half of the U.S. population gets immunized against the flu each year. While the vast majority of flu shot recipients experience no ill effects or only mild side effects, a small percentage of recipients are diagnosed with immunization-related injuries and illnesses.

There has recently been some discussion in the news about the link between the flu vaccine and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). While the precise cause of GBS is still unknown, there is a well-established link between the flu vaccine and this rare autoimmune disorder. This article provides a brief overview of this link as well as some important information about GBS and flu vaccine claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

The Link Between GBS and the Flu Vaccine—As Recognized Under the VICP

Vaccine-related injuries and illnesses that are eligible for compensation under the VICP are listed on the

If you have concerns about a vaccine-related injury or illness, friends or family members may have recommended that you speak with a vaccine lawyer. If this is the case, you might be wondering, “What does a vaccine lawyer do?”

Vaccine Lawyers Help Individuals and Families Coping with the Effects of Vaccine-Related Injuries and Illnesses

Broadly speaking, vaccine lawyers help individuals and families who are coping with the effects of vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. While the primary way vaccine lawyers help is by pursuing claims for financial compensation (more on this below), they can help in other ways as well.

For example, a vaccine lawyer can provide resources for understanding your situation, explain the costs associated with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses, and help you make informed decisions about asserting your (or your family’s) legal rights. An experienced vaccine lawyer will have represented hundreds of individuals and families facing circumstances similar to yours and will be able to use the insights gained from this experience to help guide you forward.

The U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) published year-end statistics for the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) on January 1, 2022. Since the VICP operates on a fiscal year, the 2021 year-end data include claims from the first quarter of FY 2022. In this article, vaccine attorney Leah V. Durant highlights some notable 2021 year-end figures from the program.

Pain after a flu shot is normal. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

With the 2021-2022 flu season in full swing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are encouraging the vast majority of Americans to get a flu shot. The CDC recommends the flu shot for most people, with the

Children can face various health risks, from diseases such as the flu and chickenpox to physical injuries such as scrapes, bruises and broken bones. We rely on vaccines and health care providers to help protect our children, and we don’t expect getting our children vaccinated or taking our children to the doctor to result in even more harm.

Unfortunately, sometimes the unexpected happens. For example, one risk associated with getting vaccinated against the flu – for children and adults – is the risk of contracting Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). While cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome linked to the flu shot are rare, the link is strong enough for GBS to be listed as an

Adhesive capsulitis (also known as “frozen shoulder”) is an inflammatory condition that can result from errors during immunizations. It is a form of shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (or “SIRVA”), and it is covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. If you have been diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis following a vaccination, you may have a vaccine injury claim, and you should consult with a vaccine attorney promptly.