Shoulder Pain After a Tetanus Vaccine? Find Out if You May Have a Claim Today

If you or a loved one is experiencing shoulder pain after a tetanus vaccine, you should have two priorities. First, if you have not done so already, you should seek medical treatment promptly. While mild pain for up to 48 hours after a tetanus vaccine is normal, severe or lingering pain could be a sign of a serious vaccine-related injury.

Second, you should talk to a lawyer about your legal rights. If your (or your loved one’s) shoulder pain is a symptom of a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), you may be entitled to financial compensation. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers SIRVA from tetanus vaccines, and it provides compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses.

When the VICP Covers Shoulder Pain After a Tetanus Vaccine

The VICP is a federal government program that has billions of dollars set aside for compensating individuals and families who are coping with the effects of vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. It covers injuries and illnesses linked to most CDC-recommended vaccines, including tetanus vaccines.

To qualify for compensation under the VICP, the first symptoms of a vaccine-related shoulder injury must onset within 48 hours of the vaccine injection. For most individuals who end up getting diagnosed with a form of SIRVA, one of the first symptoms—if not the first symptom—will be shoulder pain after a tetanus vaccine.

What to Do if You May Have a VICP Claim for SIRVA from a Tetanus Vaccination

If you think you may have a VICP claim for SIRVA from a tetanus vaccination (or if you don’t know and want to find out), there are some steps you should take promptly. These steps include:

1. Seek a Diagnosis and Begin Treatment Promptly

As noted above, seeking medical treatment should be your first priority if you have concerns about a potential vaccine-related shoulder injury. When you see a doctor for a diagnosis, be sure to tell your doctor about your (or your loved one’s) recent tetanus immunization. Since shoulder pain can have a variety of causes, this will help ensure that you or your loved one receives an accurate diagnosis.

2. Keep Your (or Your Loved One’s) Vaccination and Medical Records

From this point forward, you should try to make it a habit to keep all records related to your (or your loved one’s) tetanus immunization and subsequent medical care. If you don’t have a copy of your (or your loved one’s) vaccination record, write down where and when you or your loved one got vaccinated against tetanus.

3. Keep Track of Your Financial Costs

You will want to start keeping track of your financial costs as well—as you may be entitled to recover all of the costs you incur as a result of your (or your loved one’s) diagnosis under the VICP. Medical bills, prescription costs, transportation costs, and lost earnings and benefits are all covered, but it is up to you to make sure you have documentation of the value of your claim.

4. Keep a Log of Your Non-Financial Losses

Since the VICP also pays financial compensation for pain and suffering, you will want to start keeping a log of these non-financial losses as well. Take note of your (or your loved one’s) pain levels throughout the day, and document any other ways that your (or your loved one’s) shoulder pain from a tetanus vaccine makes life worse or more difficult than it should be.

5. Talk to a Vaccine Lawyer About Your VICP Claim

While you aren’t required to hire a lawyer to file your VICP claim, you can hire a lawyer to handle your claim at no cost to you. Due to the challenges involved, we strongly recommend putting an experienced lawyer on your side. As we discuss below, there are several important ways a lawyer can help with your SIRVA claim under the VICP.

How a Lawyer Can Help with Your SIRVA Claim Under the VICP

If you are entitled to financial compensation for shoulder pain after a tetanus vaccine, here are just some of the ways an experienced vaccine lawyer will be able to help with your VICP claim:

  • Collecting All Necessary Documentation – From tracking down your (or your loved one’s) tetanus vaccination record to requesting your (or your loved one’s) medical and employment records, your lawyer can assist with collecting all necessary documentation.
  • Filing All Necessary Documentation – Your lawyer can assist with filing all necessary documentation as well. This includes not only your VICP petition, but also all of the additional documentation needed to establish your eligibility for compensation under the program.
  • Proving the Compensation You Are Entitled to Receive – When you have a VICP claim, it is up to you to make sure you are seeking the full compensation you deserve. Your lawyer can assist with calculating just compensation for your (or your loved one’s) present and future financial and non-financial costs.
  • Negotiating for a VICP Settlement – Filing a VICP claim is unlike filing a claim for most other types of government benefits. You will be filing your petition in the “Vaccine Court,” and government attorneys will be working to ensure that you do not receive any compensation that isn’t warranted. With that said, this also makes settlement a possibility, and your lawyer can work to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
  • Taking Your Claim to the “Vaccine Court” if Necessary – If you do not receive a satisfactory settlement offer from the government’s attorneys, your lawyer can take your VICP claim for shoulder pain after a tetanus vaccine to the “Vaccine Court” in Washington, D.C.

Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation? Contact Us for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation

If you have questions about filing a VICP claim for shoulder pain after a tetanus vaccine, we invite you to get in touch. To schedule an appointment, call us at 202-775-9200 or request a free, no-obligation consultation online today.