Vaccines, on the whole, are safe for people to take. Unfortunately, even though they help many people, there are some who will suffer real, unavoidable injuries as a result of receiving them.
Vaccines are all different, so the materials used to make up one may not be in another. As a result, a person may have multiple vaccines without a problem, only to develop issues with another. The injuries can range from allergic reactions to vasovagal syncope or encephalopathy.
What are some known potential vaccine injuries?
Every vaccine has a few different injuries, disabilities or conditions that it could cause. For example, the vaccines that contain the tetanus toxoid, which include the DTaP, DRP, DT, Td and TT, can lead to injuries including anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, and brachial neuritis. Most symptoms arise within hours with cases of anaphylaxis, but other injuries may take a few days to develop.
With vaccines such as Hepatitis B or IPA containing inactivated polio, some patients develop anaphylaxis, vasovagal syncope and shoulder injuries related to the administration of the vaccine. In vaccines with the live polio virus, it’s actually possible to develop paralytic polio following the vaccine.
While it’s important to note that the vast majority of people can get vaccines without ill effects, these potentially damaging and life-changing vaccine injuries are still possible. These possible side effects and resulting conditions are known to doctors and medical providers, who should let you know that there is a potential for illnesses to develop that may or may not outweigh the benefits of the vaccine, depending on your medical history. If you aren’t informed about these possible effects, then you may be able to pursue a claim.