Encephalitis or brain swelling is a side effect of some vaccines

by | Jul 9, 2020 | Uncategorized

Vaccines, also sometimes called shots or immunizations, are an important part of modern preventative medicine. By injecting people with a vaccine, physicians aim to prevent that particular individual from contracting certain diseases while simultaneously reducing the likelihood of the wide-scale spread of that disease. 

Once a certain portion of the public has received vaccines for a particular illness, the community is said to have achieved herd immunity, a situation in which future outbreaks are very unlikely and any illnesses will be sporadic. Unfortunately, for all of the benefits they offer, vaccines do pose some risk to a small percentage of the population.

People can have severe reactions to vaccines, like swelling of the brain

Depending on the vaccine, it may be normal for someone to have a mild reaction. Common reactions include irritation at the site of the injection or mild, flu-like symptoms that may persist for a few days. 

Some people experience much more significant symptoms, possibly due to an allergic reaction to the vaccine or one of its components. One of the more devastating potential consequences of an adverse reaction to a vaccine is encephalitis or swelling of the brain. 

Encephalitis can cause a host of long-term medical issues by producing brain damage or impacting development in the victim. While reactions involving encephalitis are rare, they do occur frequently enough for the Health Resources & Services Administration to acknowledge that risk on their list of vaccine side effects.

How an adverse vaccine reaction can affect your family

If your child experiences swelling of the brain as a result of a vaccine, your family will likely have significant costs as a result of that injury. There may be medical expenses for the treatment of the injury itself and the ongoing care of the child. It may even be necessary for one parent to stay home, thereby depriving the family of half of its potential income. 

Those dealing with the aftermath of a severe vaccine reaction will want to explore all of their options for compensation in order to protect their family after such a tragic experience.