Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack parts of the nerve cells in the body. While most cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome are treatable, individuals diagnosed with GBS often experience severe pain and weakness, and other symptoms that last for weeks, months or even years, and in a small percentage of cases complications can lead to life-long disabilities or paralysis.
While researchers have not yet determined the exact cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome and its variants, medical science and federal law both now recognize certain vaccinations as potential triggers for GBS. Each year, numerous patients are diagnosed with vaccine-related GBS; particularly GBS after the flu shot. These individuals often incur substantial losses as a result of their symptoms and treatment. These individuals are entitled to seek financial compensation for their medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering under the federal government’s National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome following a flu shot or other vaccination, it is important to make sure you understand your rights under the VICP. To find out if you are eligible to receive compensation, contact us today for a free consultation.
The two vaccines most-closely linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome are the tetanus and influenza vaccines. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approve different formulas of the flu shot each year (depending upon the strain or strains that are most prevalent in the United States), there is no single ingredient that has been conclusively linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and cases of flu shot-related GBS have been reported in each of the past several years. With few exceptions the CDC recommends that adults and children ages six months and older receive a flu shot on an annual basis, as the likelihood and risks of becoming ill with the flu without a vaccination are far greater than the risk of being diagnosed with GBS.
The CDC recommends vaccination against tetanus for adults and children of all ages, with childhood vaccination schedules typically beginning at two months of age. The tetanus vaccine is commonly combined with the vaccines for diphtheria and pertussis, and may be labeled as:
- DT
- DTaP
- DTP
- Td
- Tdap
Variants of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
While Guillain-Barre Syndrome is one specific type of autoimmune disease, the term is also commonly used to refer to a broad range of diseases that are in fact different variants of GBS. These variants, which are also linked to the flu shot and tetanus vaccinations, include:
- Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP)
- Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN)
- Acute Motor Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN)
- Acute Panautonomic Neuropathy
- Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis (BBE)
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS)
- Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant
Symptoms of GBS and its Variants
While each of these variants has certain unique characteristics, there are a number of symptoms that are common across the spectrum of vaccine-related GBS. In most cases, the early warning signs of GBS are:
- Pain in the arms, legs, hands and feet that begins distally (far away) and ascends upward
- Tingling and weakness that start in the legs and spread into the upper body
As the symptoms of GBS progress, individuals may also experience:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty walking, climbing stairs and maintaining balance
- Difficulty with bowel movements and bladder control
- Loss of eye and facial control
- Loss of reflexes
- Sudden changes in heart rate or blood pressure
Prognosis for Guillain Barre Syndrome After the Flu Shot
Although an individual’s prognosis will depend upon his or her personal medical history and the specific variant of GBS diagnosed, in most cases, many individuals experience a full and complete recovery from Guillain Barre Syndrome and the flu shot. Most patients fully recover within six to 12 months, although approximately one-third of GBS patients will experience residual symptoms (most commonly pain and muscle weakness) for three years or longer. Having experienced GBS can also increase one’s chances of being diagnosed with GBS again in the future. This is known as a “relapse”, and in some cases patients can experience long-term or permanent complications including:
- Changes in blood pressure
- Chronic pain
- Complications from respiratory dysfunction
- Sensory abnormalities or impairments
- Paralysis
What to Do if You are Concerned about GBS and Flu Vaccines
Anyone who is concerned about the connection between Guillain Barre and flu shots or other vaccination should seek treatment from their doctor immediately. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can limit recovery time and reduce the chances of facing long-term complications. It is also important to learn about your rights under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The financial and emotional costs of vaccine-related GBS can create enormous burdens for patients and their families, and the VICP provides a no-cost, no-fault option for vaccine recipients to secure the financial resources they need. For more information about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, we encourage you to visit the links below:
in helping numerous clients secure financial compensation for flu shot and tetanus vaccine-related Guillain-Barre Syndrome both before and after the recent changes to the Vaccine Injury Table. Some of our recent case results include:
- A $200,000 lump-sum settlement secured in 2017 for GBS resulting from a flu shot received in 2015.
- A $210,000 lump-sum settlement secured in 2017 for GBS resulting from a flu shot received in 2015.
- A $240,000 lump-sum settlement secured in 2017 for GBS resulting from a flu shot received in 2015.
- A $336,325 lump-sum settlement secured in 2017 for GBS resulting from a flu shot received in 2015.
- A $418,000 lump-sum settlement was secured in 2017 on behalf of the estate of an individual who died following his flu shot and resulting GBS diagnosis in 2015.
If you believe that you may have been diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome from a flu shot, here are some of the steps that should be taken in order to seek and obtain compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program:
1. Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan and Keep Your Records.
Due to the risks associated with GBS and CIDP, it is important that patients follow their doctor’s medical advice and adhere to all prescribed treatments and therapies.
In order to support a claim for vaccine compensation, medical evidence linking your condition to your recent vaccination will be required. In order to help your vaccine attorney to support a claim for compensation, it is important that you collect and maintain medical records discussing your diagnosis, hospitalization, as well as any ongoing treatments such as neurology appointments, EMG studies, physical and/or occupational therapy sessions. These records will be used by your vaccine attorney to help establish your entitlement to compensation as well as the extent of your physical condition and level of pain and suffering.
2. Learn About Your Rights Under the VICP.
Filing a claim under the VICP is unlike the filing of any other type of lawsuit. The VICP removes many of the burdens involved in traditional tort litigation against vaccine manufacturers and vaccine administrators. Vaccine claims are adjudicated by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Office of Special Masters, and over the past thirty years, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out more than $3 billion in financial compensation to individuals living with vaccine-related injuries or deaths. In addition, because the Vaccine Program covers the cost of all reasonable attorneys’ fees, individuals can hire an experienced vaccine attorney at no financial cost to them.
3. Speak with a Lawyer Experienced in GBS Vaccine Injury Claims.
Finally, if you would like to obtain more information on whether filing a vaccine lawsuit is right for you, contact the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant & Associates for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your rights under the VICP. Because claims must be filed within three years of the first onset of symptoms or, in cases of vaccine-related deaths, within two years of the date of death, it is important not to delay seeking legal help for your vaccine injury claim.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome following a flu shot or other vaccination, contact The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant & Associates for a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with attorney Leah V. Durant about your case in confidence, please call (202) 775-9200 or request an appointment online today.