Leah Durant | Vaccine Attorney - Vaccine Blog

After being diagnosed with a vaccine injury, hiring an attorney to help you secure just compensation is an important part of the recovery process. When you hire an attorney, one of the first steps he or she will take will be to determine if you are eligible to file a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP is a federal program that provides compensation to injured vaccine recipients without requiring proof of fault; and, in addition to providing coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, it also pays claimants’ legal fees separately from their compensation awards.

3 Basic Criteria for Filing a Claim Under the VICP

While your attorney can assess your VICP eligibility for you, there are also some preliminary steps you can take in order to determine if you may be eligible to file a claim. There are three basic criteria for filing a claim under the VICP:

• Eligible person

• Eligible vaccine injury

• Meeting the deadline

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As the entire world anxiously awaits the arrival of a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, flu season is now upon us as well, and that means it is time to start thinking about the annual flu shot. The U.S.

According to the September 1, 2020 Data & Statistics report from the U.S.

In the United States, there are two federal agencies that share primary responsibility for ensuring that vaccines are safe for the public. These are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the CDC provides vaccine recommendations and general oversight with regard to vaccine safety, the FDA is responsible for determining whether individual vaccines should be authorized for use in the United States at all.

If you are planning to travel abroad, you may need to get a vaccine before you go. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend various vaccines for individuals who are traveling to overseas destinations, and these vaccines can provide critical protection against diseases that do not present a threat in the United States.

The CDC maintains an online database of recommended travel vaccines, and you can search the CDC’s travel vaccine database based on the country (or countries) to which you are planning to travel.

For individuals who are allergic to gelatin or egg protein, getting immunized with certain vaccines can carry the risk of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic (or “hypersensitivity”) reaction; and, while it is rare overall, it presents a significant concern for individuals who have these allergies. As a result, prior to getting vaccinated, individuals who have gelatin or egg protein allergies should consult with their physicians to determine whether it is safe to do so.

Which Vaccines Contain Gelatin?

Gelatin is used as a preservative in various vaccine formulations. For example, gelatin may be present in vaccines including (but not limited to) those used to prevent:

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)

• Influenza (nasal spray formulations)

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and the separate vaccinations for each of these diseases

• Rabies

• Singles

• Varicella (chickenpox)

Which Vaccines Contain Egg Protein?

Egg protein is used in the production of certain vaccines.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is one of the standard childhood vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also recommends MMR vaccination for adults who have not previously been vaccinated. Like all CDC-recommended vaccines, the MMR vaccine is generally safe for most people.

When getting vaccinated, it is important to be aware of both the side effects of the particular vaccine as well as the signs of related vaccine illnesses and injuries. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain, “Usually vaccine side effects are minor .

If your child has had an adverse reaction to the flu shot or any other vaccination, there are a few steps you will want to take to ensure your child’s wellbeing and to make sure your family has the financial resources it needs to manage the costs of your child’s illness or injury. Here, national vaccine lawyer Leah V. Durant explains what parents need to know:

1. Seek Medical Attention for Your Child Promptly

All vaccines have potential side effects; and, for many vaccines, the risk of side effects is particularly high among children. However, in some cases, what appear to be side effects can actually be symptoms of a potentially-serious

Having an allergic reaction to a vaccine can potentially lead to serious consequences. A severe allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis, and the effects of anaphylaxis can range from swelling and hives to anaphylactic shock.

So, how can you find out if you are allergic to a vaccine?

Consult with Your Doctor

As with all medical questions, if you would like to find out if you are allergic to a vaccine, you should consult with your doctor. Your doctor can review your medical history, order any necessary tests and determine if you are at risk of having a severe allergic reaction to a particular vaccine.

Review the Vaccine’s List of Ingredients

When someone says that he or she is allergic to a vaccine, what that person really means is that he or she is allergic to a particular vaccine ingredient.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers all approved vaccines to be generally safe for most people. In fact, on its website, the CDC simply states, “Vaccines are safe and effective.” However, all vaccines have known side effects, and getting vaccinated can lead to serious medical issues in some cases.