Leah Durant | Vaccine Attorney - Vaccine Blog

Years ago, the federal government set up a trust containing funds earmarked for those injured by vaccines. The fund, known as the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund, is seen by many as government confirmation that vaccines do indeed cause physical harm to children and adults – and victims should be compensated accordingly. As one congressman recently asserted, there may be more to the story than meets the eye (and the media).

Vaccine exemptions are a hot-button topic across the United States, and many jurisdictions have opted to uphold and fortify the notion that parents are in the best position to decide whether their child should receive vaccinations. Some states, however, have worked to whittle away at the exemptions historically offered to skeptical parents, and have essentially forced families to undergo vaccination regiments in order to enroll in public school.

One of the primary functions of the immune system is to distinguish between the body and foreign agents, keeping the individual healthy and strong while at the same time attacking and destroying outside invaders.  Guillain-Barre syndrome (or GBS) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system malfunctions and begins attacking its own nervous system. In patients diagnosed with GBS, the myelin sheath that covers the nerves and assists with signal transmission is attacked during a process called demyelination. Unlike Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (or CIDP), the chronic form of the disease, GBS presents quickly and is frequently followed by some sort of infection or illness, and in some cases follows administration of a flu shot.  GBS following flu vaccination is marked by tingling and weakness in the arms and legs.  If left undiagnosed and untreated, severe forms of GBS may lead to whole body paralysis, hospitalization, or even death.

Following a string of injury reports, a group known as the European Medicines Agency has announced its intentions to take a closer look at the vaccine used to prevent HPV – a condition known to cause cervical cancer.

As we recently reported, California recently became one of the first states to do away with personal exemptions for families wishing to refrain from vaccinating their children prior to enrollment in the public school system. The decision, which sent shockwaves through the nation as an unrestrained exercise in government over-reach, was met with strenuous objections from parents wishing to wait or withhold vaccination all together. Fortunately, however, not every state has opted to take the same route, and states like Oregon and Washington recently struck down similar measures by lawmakers looking to add a similar – possibly unconstitutional – mandate to their codebooks.

Can a state require my child to get a meningitis vaccine?

Bacterial meningitis is a highly-contagious, life-threatening condition easily spread between individuals living in close quarters (like dormitories). Historically, public universities and colleges mandated this under-studied vaccine for any new enrollee, and would decline admission to any student refusing to submit to the three-part series of inoculations.

What is the AMA’s stance on opting out of routine vaccinations for newborns and children?

In June, 2015, the American Medical Association took an official stance on the notion of parents conscientiously opting out of the traditional vaccine schedule. While this is not necessarily surprising, it could trigger a ripple effect against the informed vaccination rights many advocates have worked so hard to establish – particularly if state legislatures place great weight on this group’s position.

Why are some Californians against SB 277?

In response to a recent measles outbreak at Disneyland, a bill designated SB 277 has been presented to California’s state legislature to eliminate an exemption to mandatory vaccine rules.  The bill also sets a schedule for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations.  Presently, parents can opt out of these vaccinations if they have a personal, religious, or medical reason. 

Is ADEM related to vaccinations?

ADEM, or Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, is a rare autoimmune disease resulting in rapid fever, loss of consciousness, and widespread inflammation of the nervous system.  Many of its symptoms are similar to Multiple Sclerosis.  Although rare, it is associated with complications resulting from vaccinations in children, teens, and adults.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS, is a rare disorder in which a person’s immune system damages his or her nervous system, causing muscle weakness and, sometimes, paralysis.  It can lead to long-term nerve damage and, in very rare instances, death, usually due to difficulty breathing.  An estimated 3,000-6,000 people contract GBS in the United States each year. 

How can my child recover damages for adverse effects caused by a vaccination?

Like many parents, Theresa and Lucas Black of Mooresville, North Carolina trusted that vaccinating their child would be safe. Days after her vaccinations, however, their three-month-old daughter suffered seizures that threatened her life. A Charlotte neurologist determined that the vaccine had caused encephalopathy. Years later, her brain injury left her profoundly disabled, unable to speak, and on a feeding tube.