Flu Vaccination

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the annual flu shot for most people. According to the CDC’s data, the flu shot prevents millions of recipients from getting influenza each year, and tens of thousands of people avoid influenza-associated hospitalizations as a result of getting vaccinated.

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) publishes monthly updates on vaccine injury claims under the National Vaccine Injury Program (VICP). On January 1, 2020, it published year-end data for 2019.

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Getting the flu shot is important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend it for most people, and scientific research has shown that the flu shot protects millions of Americans against influenza each year.

However, getting the flu shot can also result in adverse reaction.

While getting the flu shot can help reduce your risk of getting sick, it does not guarantee protection against influenza. Over the past decade, the flu shot’s overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) rating has ranged from 19 to 60 percent, and each year millions of Americans still choose not to get vaccinated.

For individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses, securing financial compensation often involves filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP). If you or a loved one has been diagnosed, here are seven key facts for you to know:

1. The NVICP is a Federal Government Program Created Specifically to Compensate Individuals Diagnosed with Vaccine Injuries

Congress established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) in 1988 for the sole purpose of providing a source of financial compensation for individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. The NVICP is funded by a tax on vaccines, and it offers a time and cost-efficient alternative to filing a traditional lawsuit against a healthcare provider or pharmaceutical company.

On March 14, 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced that it will not be recommending the flu shot over the nasal spray flu vaccine for the 2019-2020 flu season. This represents a reversal of the AAP’s position during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 flu seasons, when it recommended against use of the nasal spray vaccine due to its “poor effectiveness” in fighting the H1N1 flu strains. During the 2018-2019 flu season, the AAP took the position that the nasal spray should only be used as a “last resort” for children who could not be immunized via injection.

Each year, hundreds of people seek financial compensation for vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. Many more suffer injuries and illnesses that are never reported; and, as researchers continue learn more about the risks associated with different types of vaccinations, more types of injuries and illnesses are being recognized as vaccine-related.

There are two primary ways that vaccine recipients can experience complications from their immunizations: (i) adverse reactions to vaccine ingredients, and (ii) errors during vaccine administration.

1. Adverse Reactions to Vaccine Ingredients

Individuals who experience adverse reactions to vaccine ingredients can face a variety of medical consequences.