Shoulder Pain After a Flu Shot? You May Have a Claim Under the VICP

While it is normal to experience mild pain at the injection site after a vaccination, it is not normal to experience severe pain or pain that does not go away. If you are experiencing unexpected shoulder pain after a flu shot, you should see a doctor promptly.

If your doctor diagnoses you with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), you should also talk to a lawyer about your legal rights.

Why? Because you may be entitled to financial compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP covers all forms of SIRVA caused by flu shots, including adhesive capsulitis, brachial neuritis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder bursitis and tendonitis, among others.

Understanding the Cause of Shoulder Pain After a Flu Shot

Although flu shots can leave vaccine recipients with a variety of vaccine-related medical conditions, shoulder pain from SIRVA is among the most common risks associated with immunization against influenza. While most vaccine-related illnesses and injuries result from adverse reactions, SIRVA result from errors during vaccine administration. This means that the risk of severe or long-lasting shoulder pain is a risk for all individuals who receive flu shot injections in the shoulder.

What types of vaccine administration errors can cause abnormal shoulder pain? Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain after a flu shot include:

  • Using a wrong-size needle
  • Inserting the needle too high on the shoulder
  • Inserting the needle at the wrong angle

To be clear, as we said in the introduction, mild pain at the injection site is normal. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes this pain as “soreness” or “aches,” and state that it should typically subside within 48 hours. Pain that cannot be described as mild, pain that does not go away, and pain that worsens over time or with certain motions are all potential signs of a vaccine-related shoulder injury caused by improper administration.

Understanding the Costs You May Be Facing

If your shoulder pain after a flu shot is symptomatic of a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, you could be facing a variety of substantial costs. This includes costs that are both financial and non-financial in nature. For example, some of the most common losses that vaccine recipients and their families experience following SIRVA diagnoses include:

  • Medical Bills and Other Medical Costs – From diagnosis and treatment to pain medications, shoulder pain after a flu shot can lead to several out-of-pocket costs. If your (or your loved one’s) shoulder pain doesn’t go away, you could continue to incur these costs for months, if not years or decades, to come.
  • Loss of Income and Benefits – Many people who have vaccine-related shoulder injuries or who are dealing with chronic shoulder pain after a flu shot are unable to work. If your shoulder pain or other effects of your vaccine-related shoulder injury prevent you from working, your lost income and benefits will begin to add up quickly.
  • Pain and Suffering – No one should be forced to live with pain and other harmful effects from vaccination errors. Unfortunately, while these errors are relatively uncommon when compared to the total number of flu shots administered in the United States annually, they are still far more common than they should be. If you or a loved one has pain that isn’t going away, this is a loss for which you (or your loved one) deserve just compensation.

Fortunately, these are all costs that flu shot recipients and their families can seek to recover under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)—as long as they take action in time. If you have a VICP claim for SIRVA, you will want to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

Understanding How a Lawyer Can Help with Your VICP Claim

Why is it important to speak with a lawyer promptly if you have a VICP claim for SIRVA? While you are not legally required to hire a lawyer to help you with your VICP claim, doing so offers several benefits. Some of the main reasons to hire a lawyer for your VICP claim include:

1. It Costs You Nothing

Under the terms of the VICP, it costs you nothing to hire a lawyer for your claim. If your claim is successful, the VICP will pay your lawyer’s fees separately from your award of compensation. If your claim is unsuccessful for any reason, you owe nothing.

2. Your Lawyer Can Establish Your Eligibility

You must meet strict requirements to file a VICP claim for shoulder pain after a flu shot. Your lawyer can establish your eligibility so that you don’t waste your time pursuing a claim that has no chance of success.

3. Your Lawyer Can Calculate Your Costs

Your lawyer can also calculate the costs you are entitled to recover. Between calculating your long-term medical bills and lost earnings to calculating “just compensation” for your pain and suffering, this is not an easy process.

4. Your Lawyer Can Make Sure You Meet All Filing Requirements

Along with meeting the eligibility criteria to file a VICP claim, you must also meet the VICP’s filing requirements. If you omit necessary information or overlook any necessary filings, you will not receive the compensation you deserve.

5. Your Lawyer Can Negotiate for a Fair Settlement

In many cases, it will be possible to resolve a valid VICP claim via settlement without going to the “Vaccine Court” in Washington, D.C. An experienced lawyer will be able to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf (and prepare your case for the “Vaccine Court” if necessary).

Contact Us for a Free Consultation About Your VICP Claim Today

If you need to know more about filing a VICP claim for shoulder pain after a flu shot, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To learn more in a free and confidential consultation, please call 202-775-9200 or tell us how we can reach you online today.