Vaccine Injury

Overview

Legally, a "vaccine injury" is an unintended reaction that occurs after administration of a vaccine. In certain severe cases, there is a federal program to assist injured individuals. Contact us for assistance today at 515-288-6041.

What is Vaccine Injury?

A vaccine injury, also known as a vaccine adverse event, may be eligible for compensation when a person experiences any of the following situations after vaccination:

Symptoms and/or a disease or disorder lasting for more than six months,
Symptoms and/or a disease or disorder resulting in hospitalization,
Symptoms and/or a disease or disorder resulting in surgical intervention, or
death.

Vaccine injuries can include disorders such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) or Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and shoulder injuries. If there is a vaccine-related injury, affected patients should consult with legal counsel. There are Whitfield & Eddy Law attorneys in Iowa who regularly handle vaccine injury cases in states across the United States and can assist in the determination of action and possible compensation. Vaccine injury attorneys at Whitfield & Eddy Law can help with the vaccine injury compensation process.

What Do I Do When My Doctor Says I May Have a Vaccine Injury?

If your doctor or another medical professional indicates that you have suffered a vaccine injury, you should contact a vaccine injury attorney at Whitfield & Eddy Law to help with your claim.

Filing with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

What is the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program?

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“NVICP”) was created by Congress in 1986. This program is a no-fault compensation plan designed to quickly and fairly compensate persons who experience one of the extremely rare, but recognized, side effects from a vaccine.

What is the Vaccine Injury Table?

The Vaccine Injury Table is an outline of vaccines, resulting conditions, and the time period for onset of symptoms covered by the NVICP for which an injured person may be entitled to receive benefits. If a person experiences a vaccine injury which is not outlined on the Vaccine Injury Table, an off-table claim may be submitted to the NVICP for potential compensation.

How does the NVICP Work?

Vaccine manufacturers pay an excise tax on each vaccine dose that is directly deposited into the NVICP Trust Fund. For each dose of a vaccine, the tax is $0.75. The United States Department of Treasury collects the excise taxes and manages the Trust Fund, which is valued at nearly $4 billion dollars as of August 2021.

What is the Vaccine Injury Filing Process?

First, it is recommended to retain an attorney familiar with the NVICP and who is a member of the Court of Federal Claims Bar. As long as a claim is filed in good faith, the NVICP will reimburse all attorney fees associated with filing and prosecuting a vaccine injury claim. Attorneys at Whitfield & Eddy Law will work with you through the process to evaluate your potential claim and apply for benefits under the NVICP.

What Are The Most Common Vaccine Injury Claims?

The following vaccine injuries are among those that Whitfield & Eddy attorneys regularly represent injured individuals from Iowa and across the country in their vaccine injury claims.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.

Encephalomyelitis

Encephalomyelitis is a serious condition characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder targeting the nervous system.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammation that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

SIRVA occurs when a vaccine is administered in your upper arm, near your shoulder, and results in severe and long-lasting shoulder pain.

How Our Practice Helps

Our team approach to litigation and vaccine injury is based on deep experience with personal injury and medical-related cases over decades of practice. Our commitment to communication will help guide you through the process and understand the options available to you including procedures and outcomes.

Our Experience and What Makes Us Unique

Attorneys Tom Reavely, Zach Hermsen, and Bryn Hazelwonder represent individuals from across the country in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Our vaccine injury experience and proven results with this program provides quick and fair compensation for those who experience lasting side effects from a vaccine.

Vaccine Injuries and Whitfield & Eddy Law

Contact us if you have questions or adverse reactions involving a vaccine injury, including, but not limited to, the following:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Encephalomyelitis
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

For more information about your vaccine injury fill out this form

Contact any of the following attorneys or fill out this form and submit via email. Disclaimer: the form submission is not considered confidential nor does it imply a relationship with any attorney.

Bryn Hazelwonder: call 515-558-0156, or email hazelwonder@whitfieldlaw.com.

Zach Hermsen: call 515-558-0171, or email hermsen@whitfieldlaw.com.

Tom Reavely: call 515-246-5519, or email reavely@whitfieldlaw.com.