TDaP Vaccine Injury Lawyer

TDaP, the vaccine created to prevent a person from contracting tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis has a lengthy list of possible serious adverse reactions. What do you do if you or a loved one has a negative experience?

Here’s everything you need to know about Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccine, its side effects, and how to know when you should contact a TDap vaccine injury lawyer.

What is TDaP?

TDaP is the vaccine produced and approved for use in children age seven and up as well as adults. Ideally, the vaccine will prevent a recipient from contracting tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis (whooping cough).

It is recommended that children receive their first dose between the ages of 11 and 12 years. Pregnant women are encouraged to receive the TDaP vaccine as well as adults who’ve never received it. Adults are encouraged to get a booster every 10 years.

DTap is a similar vaccine licensed for use in infants. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), infants should receive three doses–one at two months, four months, and six months along with boosters between the ages of 15-18 months and 4-6 years.

Also recommended by the CDC, the TD (tetanus and diphtheria only) vaccine can be given to those who previously experienced a serious adverse reaction to TDaP or DTaP. However, it is still possible to experience a TD vaccine injury.

Side Effects and Disorders Associated with TDaP Vaccine

While the CDC states that serious adverse reactions are rare, they do happen. Here is a list of possible side effects and long-term disorders that have been reported in connection with vaccines containing tetanus toxoids.

• SIRVA
• Dangerously high fever/febrile seizures
• Encephalopathy
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing problems
• Severe allergic reaction
• Long-term seizures

SIRVA

While not directly connected to the vaccine ingredients, SIRVA is a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration. SIRVA occurs when a medical professional administers the vaccine into the shoulder capsule instead of the deltoid muscle.

The resulting injuries could be lifelong and include shoulder pain, stiffness, weakness, nerve inflammation, or nerve damage. These reactions usually occur within 48 hours of receiving a vaccination.

Febrile Seizures

A low-grade fever is a common side effect of vaccination. However, a high fever can induce seizures or convulsions in an otherwise healthy child. Febrile seizures are most common in children six months to five years.

Seizures usually subside after about five minutes and leave no long-term effects. For reasons unknown, febrile seizures usually affect boys more often than girls.

Encephalopathy

Encephalopathy, damage or disease that affects the brain, is a serious side effect and can be irreversible. Symptoms of encephalopathy include the following:

• Memory Loss
• Tremors/Seizures
• Confusion
• Difficulty speaking
• Personality changes
• Muscle weakness
• Uncontrollable twitches
• Uncontrollable eye movements
• Drowsiness
• Difficulty swallowing

If you or a loved one experiences any symptoms of encephalopathy, seek medical attention immediately.

Loss of Consciousness

It’s actually not uncommon for people to pass out after a medical procedure of any kind. This would be considered a mild reaction unless it lasted longer than a few minutes or if there was trouble reviving the patient.

Severe Allergic Reactions/Breathing Problems

Hives, swelling at the injection site, and itching are all signs of an allergic reaction. Severe reactions would also include difficulty breathing due to swelling of the face and throat, rapid heart rate, dizziness, and weakness that begin within minutes or hours of receiving a vaccination.

Long-term Seizures

While febrile seizures are temporary, long-term seizures are recurring and can be life-long, possibly a side effect of encephalopathy. Only a medical professional can make the determination between the two.

How Common Are TDaP Vaccine Reactions?

According to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), more than 100,000 reports of adverse reactions have been reported in connection to any tetanus-related vaccinations since its inception in 1986.

How to Report Vaccine Side Effects

Any and all adverse reactions to any vaccine should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is the database created by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to record all vaccine-related information.

If you or a loved one has experienced an adverse event following vaccination, you should first contact your healthcare provider. Then file a report with VAERS either online directly through their website or by filling out and returning a printable form available on the website.

Be sure to be as specific and precise as possible when filing a VAERS report as false reporting could result in legal ramifications.

When to Contact a TDaP Vaccine Injury Lawyer

After contacting a medical professional and filing a report with VAERS, you should consider contacting a TDaP vaccine injury attorney. In order to file a vaccine injury claim in court, you must have an attorney that is admitted to the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C.

Unlike regular court cases, vaccine injury cases cannot be filed in local or state courts. Vaccine injury cases must proceed through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The program has awarded more than $3 billion compensation for vaccine injury since its formation in 1986.

Finding a Reputable Vaccine Attorney

While vaccine injuries may be rare, they do happen. And when they do, you need a compassionate, capable, and dedicated attorney to fight for you. The skilled legal team at Heidari Law Group is ready to help you navigate the difficult court system so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

Contact a TDaP vaccine injury lawyer today for a free case evaluation. One of our knowledgeable staff can also help you file the required paperwork with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.