For most people, mild pain is a short-term consequence of getting a flu shot. But, in some cases, pain after a flu shot doesn’t go away. While injuries and illnesses caused by flu shots are relatively rare, they do happen, and in some cases, they affect flu shot recipients for the rest of their lives.
We regularly represent individuals who have been diagnosed with flu shot-related injuries and illnesses. This includes illnesses and injuries caused by the flu shot itself (i.e., Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)) as well as injuries caused by improper immunization techniques (i.e., shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)). In both scenarios, individuals diagnosed with flu shot injuries and illnesses have clear legal rights—including the right to seek just compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
Seeking Compensation for a Flu Shot Injury or Illness
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program pays compensation to eligible flu shot recipients who file petitions with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (also known as the Vaccine Court). Petitioners must prove their right to compensation under the VICP, and they must also prove how much they are entitled to recover.
In many cases, injuries and illnesses are presumed to be flu shot-related. For example, if a flu shot recipient experiences symptoms of SIRVA within 48 hours of immunization, this alone can be enough to establish the recipient’s right to VICP compensation (assuming the recipient meets all other applicable requirements). Even so, successfully establishing the right to compensation under the VICP can prove challenging. As the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) notes, most successful claimants hire a lawyer—which you can do at no out-of-pocket cost.
In addition to establishing your right to compensation for a flu shot injury or illness, your lawyer can also calculate the value of your claim. Under the VICP, eligible petitioners can recover compensation for their:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
Individual flu shot recipients’ losses vary greatly. With this in mind, it is essential to work with an experienced lawyer who can help prove how much you are entitled to recover under the VICP.
Sample VICP Results In Cases Involving Pain After a Flu Shot That Doesn’t Go Away
So far in 2022, we have helped dozens of individuals obtain VICP compensation for flu shot-related injuries and illnesses. Here are some examples of our recent results:
- $199,587 recovered for a flu shot recipient diagnosed with SIRVA in 2018
- $175,000 recovered for a flu shot recipient diagnosed with GBS in 2019
- $98,000 recovered for a flu shot recipient diagnosed with SIRVA in 2018
- $70,000 recovered for a flu shot recipient diagnosed with Bell’s palsy in 2017
- $45,000 recovered for a flu shot recipient diagnosed with SIRVA in 2017
Get a Free Consultation about Your Flu Shot Injury or Illness Claim Under the VICP
If you would like to know more about filing a VICP claim for a flu shot-related injury or illness, we invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. To discuss your legal rights in confidence as soon as possible, call 202-775-9200 or request an appointment online today.