When seeking financial compensation for a vaccine-related injury or illness, you are bound to come across a number of initials and acronyms with which you are unfamiliar. Figuring out what these abbreviations stand for – and how they are relevant to your vaccine injury claim – is one of the first steps toward understanding your legal rights.

Understanding Your Claim for Financial Compensation After a Vaccine Injury 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency responsible for establishing recommended vaccination schedules and providing the public with information about the risks associated with different types of immunizations. When looking for information about vaccine safety or the side effects associated with vaccine injuries, the CDC’s Vaccines & Immunizations site is a good place to start.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare but dangerous illness that has been linked to the flu shot and certain other immunizations. There are a number of acute and chronic variants of GBS, including Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP).

Vaccines are not just for children. In addition to the annual flu shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a number of immunizations for adults. This includes “catch-up” immunizations for vaccines not received during childhood, vaccinations that are specifically recommended for adults, and vaccines for travel and other specific circumstances.

Adults who are unsure whether then need to get vaccinated can take the CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz. Accurately completing the quiz will help you determine which vaccines you should discuss with your doctor. Other than whether you have received the chickenpox vaccine (to which you can answer, “Not sure”), you do not need any information about your medical or vaccination history in order to complete the quiz.

Take the CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz.

Additional Vaccine Resources for Adults

As an adult, it is important to make informed decisions about getting vaccinated. This means understanding which vaccines you need, the benefits of those vaccines, and the risks associated with particular vaccine ingredients and the vaccine administration process. For more information, we encourage you to read:

While vaccine injuries are relatively rare overall, they are more common than most people realize. Each year, hundreds of individuals file claims with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), and these claimants represent only a small fraction of the vaccine recipients who experience pain and other symptoms as a result of their vaccinations.

From allergic reactions to spinal cord damage, vaccines have the potential to cause a variety of injuries, illnesses and other potentially-dangerous medical conditions. However, two types of conditions are particularly common: (i) shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), and (ii) Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS).

About SIRVA and GBS

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The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is among the most-effective vaccines in use today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that cases of measles have dropped by 99 percent since the introduction of the MMR vaccine; and overall, the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective for individuals who receive both of the recommended doses.

For individuals who are experiencing pain after a vaccination, this pain is not something to be ignored. While a small amount of discomfort at the injection site is normal, severe pain that lasts more than a day or two could be a sign of a serious vaccine-related injury.

From ongoing medical treatment and recovery to missed time from work, dealing with a vaccine-related injury can be expensive. Fortunately, there is a federal government program, known as the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) that provides financial relief for individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries. The VICP also covers claimants’ legal fees separately from their awards of compensation, so hiring a vaccine lawyer can come at no financial cost to you.

Each month, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) publishes updated statistics on vaccine injury claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The monthly National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Data Report provides up-to-date information on:

• Number of vaccine injury claims filed, compensated and denied;
• Types and amounts of compensation awards issued; and,
• Types of vaccines and vaccine injuries included in claims for compensation.

At the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, our practice is devoted exclusively to representing individuals who have been diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and families who have lost loved ones due to problems with vaccinations. Seeking financial compensation for a vaccine-related injury or death involves filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), and each year we represent dozens of clients in VICP claims.

The following are five recent examples of claims we have filed successfully on behalf of our clients. While past results are not indicative of future outcomes, understanding the types of claims that are successful can help you make informed decisions about asserting your legal rights:

Back to School Means It’s Time to Update Your Vaccinations

With the new school year in full swing and winter approaching, it is important for parents to make sure that their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations. This is true not only for children who are in school, but for younger children who may be exposed to preventable diseases during drop-offs, pick-ups and other school-related events as well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several vaccinations for children of all ages, and it

What to Do After Being Diagnosed with a Vaccine-Related Illness or Injury

Vaccine-related illness and injuries are more common than most people realize. Since 1988, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has paid more than $3.2 billion to thousands of individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related medical conditions, and this represents only a small fraction of the number of people who have experienced shoulder injuries, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), anaphylaxis and other life-altering complications as a result of their vaccinations.

What should you do if you have been diagnosed with a vaccine-related illness or injury? Here are five tips for protecting your health and your legal rights:

1. Follow Your Doctor’s Advice

After being diagnosed with a

Choosing a Vaccine Lawyer: When, Why and How to Seek Legal Representation for Your VICP Claim

If you have been diagnosed with a vaccine illness or injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP has paid well over $3 billion to individuals suffering from vaccine-related medical conditions; and, since the VICP pays claimants’ legal fees separately from their financial awards, hiring a lawyer to handle your VICP claim can come at little or no out-of-pocket cost to you.

While Congress established the VICP to make it easier for individuals diagnosed with vaccine injuries and illnesses to recover their losses (as compared to filing a lawsuit against a major pharmaceutical company), filing a successful VICP claim is not a simple process. An experienced vaccine injury lawyer can help, and seeking legal representation quickly is the best thing you can do to help maximize your financial recovery.

What Types of Vaccine Illnesses and Injuries are Covered?

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program provides compensation for all vaccine-related illnesses and injuries.

When making preparations to travel overseas, it is important not to overlook the need for obtaining the vaccinations recommended for the region to which you are traveling. In addition to the standard vaccination schedules for children and adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several vaccines for travelers depending upon their travel destinations.

Overseas travelers can find the CDC’s recommendations on the agency’s Travelers’ Health page.