National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

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.

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.

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

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disorder with no known cause and no known cure. However, medical science has established a link between Guillain-Barre Syndrome and certain vaccinations, and many vaccine recipients have succeeded in recovering financial compensation for GBS under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). In this article, vaccine injury lawyer Leah V. Durant explains what individuals who have been diagnosed with GBS need to know about filing a VICP claim.

When is GBS Considered a Vaccine Injury?

There are two circumstances in which

For individuals and families who are coping with the effects of vaccine-related injuries and illnesses, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) provides a source of financial recovery. Claimants can hire a vaccine attorney at no cost, so there is no reason not to seek experienced legal representation for a vaccine injury claim.

The VICP Covers Claimants’ Legal Fees and Costs

As the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) explains in

In most cases, seeking compensation for a vaccine injury does not involve going to court. The majority of successful vaccine injury claims settle well before going to a hearing at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (the “Vaccine Court”) in Washington D.C.

Coping with the effects of a vaccine-related injury or illness can be extremely challenging. Not only can it be incredibly expensive, but many types of vaccine injuries and illnesses can make it difficult to live your normal life on a day-to-day basis. For these reasons, many individuals who experience these injuries and illnesses seek the advice of a vaccine injury lawyer.

Should you seek the advice of a vaccine injury lawyer? As we explain in greater detail below, in most cases the answer is a clear “Yes”.

You Should Talk to a Vaccine Injury Lawyer If…

There are a few different circumstances in which it will make sense to speak with a vaccine injury lawyer.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people throughout the United States and worldwide to stay home and maintain social distancing, flu cases are at record lows this season. According to CBS News, “High vaccine rates, in combination with face masks, social distancing, school closures, stay-at-home orders and a lack of international travel, have led to a record low number of flu cases.”

But, while this is perhaps a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.

Each year, we help numerous individuals and families across the country recover financial compensation for vaccine-related injuries and illnesses under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Last year was no different. Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to continue serving clients across the country remotely, and the federal Vaccine Court continued to process claims in an efficient manner. Here is a summary of our results in flu vaccine injury and other VICP claims in 2020:

If you, your spouse or your child has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness, you may be thinking about hiring a lawyer. But, if you are like many people, you may have questions as well. Do you really need a lawyer? If so, when is the right time to hire one? What can a vaccine injury lawyer do to help, and what can you expect if you hire a lawyer to represent you or your family?

Following a Vaccine Injury Diagnosis, It is Important to Speak with a Lawyer Promptly

With regard to when to hire a lawyer, the answer is simple: You should hire a lawyer as soon as you learn that you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness. While you have up to three years to file a claim for a non-fatal injury or illness, there are several reasons why you will want to begin working on your claim as soon as possible.

Among them, in many cases, it is possible to establish your right to compensation without specifically proving that your (or your family member’s) vaccine caused the illness or injury in question.