The Hepatitis B vaccine is safer than most vaccines, but it does have some serious side effects — especially the risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, which can cause life-threatening injury, disability, or death. If you or your family member was hurt by Hepatitis B vaccine side effects, you may qualify for a Hepatitis B vaccine lawsuit. Your claim could be awarded up to $250,000 from the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
Do I Have a Hepatitis B Vaccine Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured after being immunized with the Hepatitis B vaccine, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Hepatitis B Vaccine Lawsuit.
Hepatitis B Vaccine Overview
The Hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to prevent Hepatitis B, a viral illness that can lead to severe, chronic inflammation of the liver. People get Hepatitis B through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. At least half of people who are infected have no symptoms, but they can carry and transmit the disease to others. The symptoms of a Hepatitis B infection include fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, jaundice, joint pain, and skin rash. Later in life, people infected with the Hepatitis B virus are more likely to suffer from chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Today, experts recommend that children receive the Hepatitis B vaccination at birth, before they go home from the hospital. Older children or adults who are not vaccinated at birth typically get the Hepatitis B vaccine in combination with other immunizations.
Hepatitis B vaccine include:
- Hepatitis B recombinant (only Hepatitis B): Recombivax HB, Energix B
- Hep-B-Hib (combination of Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate): Comvax
- Hep-B-DTaP-Polio (combination of Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and inactivated polio): Pediarix
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A: Twinrix
Hepatitis B Vaccine Side Effects
The Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the safest vaccines, and side effects are very rare. About 35% of people who get this vaccine have a reaction to it, but the reaction is usually very mild and does not cause lasting injury. Around 3% of people have tenderness or redness after the immunization. Around 1-6% of people have low-grade fever.
Allergic reaction is one of the most serious Hepatitis B vaccine side effects, but it is very rare, affecting just 0.001% of all vaccine recipients. A whole-body allergic reaction is called anaphylactic shock and it can be life-threatening. There is a risk that the muscles in the airway could swell, which could cut off the windpipe and stop breathing. Unless a physician can open the airway, lack of oxygen can cause severe injury, intellectual disability, physical disability, or death.
There may also be other Hepatitis B vaccine side effects, but they are probably very rare and experts cannot determine whether they are caused by the vaccine.
Hepatitis B Vaccine Injury Claims
If you have a Hepatitis B vaccine injury claim, your case will go to a special Vaccine Court located in Washington D.C. This court was established specifically to handle vaccine injury claims. Experts at the court review each case and decide whether to award compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
Unlike other drug injury lawsuits, you can win your case without proving that someone is responsible for your injury. You must only convince the court that there is a very good chance that your injury was caused by the vaccine. Because it is a legal process, most people hire a vaccine injury attorney. Your attorney can help you make the best case possible, seeking the highest amount of compensation you deserve.
As of June 1, 2012, the VICP has reviewed 627 Hepatitis B vaccine injury lawsuits. Of these, there were 50 claims for death, and 577 for injuries caused by the vaccine. They have dismissed 353 cases, and awarded financial compensation in 210 cases.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Hepatitis B vaccine must have harmed you, or your child, or your family member who is now disabled or deceased. The legal guardians of children or disabled adults may also qualify for a vaccine lawsuit.
- You must file your Hepatitis B vaccine injury claim soon after the vaccine causes the injury. After the deadline passes, you are not eligible for an injury claim. You have three years to file an injury claim, two years for a claim for death, and four years for a claim for injury that later caused death.
- The VICP only awards compensation to serious injuries. The vaccine injury must have required hospitalization, or needed surgery, or lasted for at least six months, or caused disability, or caused death.
Do I have a Hepatitis B Vaccine Lawsuit?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Hepatitis B Vaccine Lawsuit review.
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