Most people receive a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine when they are children, and a booster shot as teenagers or adults. Unfortunately, in rare cases, the pertussis vaccine can have severe, sometimes deadly side effects — including brain damage, lifelong seizure disorders, life-threatening allergic reaction, permanent disabilities, and death. If you or a loved one has been injured, you may have a pertussis vaccine injury claim.
Do I Have a Pertussis (Whooping Cough) 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 a Pertussis Vaccine injury claim, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Pertussis Vaccine Lawsuit.
UPDATE
September 14, 2012 — New research indicates that the effectiveness of DTaP to prevent Whooping Cough may decline more rapidly than previously thought. Although non-vaccinated children are far more likely to get the disease, researchers are finding that children who have been vaccinated have a 42% increased risk of getting Whooping Cough per year after their fifth dose of DTaP. Click here to read more.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine Overview
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly-contagious bacterial disease that causes severe coughing. The uncontrollable fits of coughing can cause lung damage or break ribs, as well as interfere with breathing and swallowing. The nickname “whooping cough” comes from the sound people make when they are trying to breathe during a coughing fit. In the past, children and infants were most likely to get pertussis. Now that the vaccine is available, adolescents and adults are most likely to get this disease. Infants may catch the disease from adults who are not vaccinated, which can cause a life-threatening or deadly infection.
Most people get the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine when they are children, and the most common vaccine is the DTaP vaccine, which protects against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria. DTaP is only effective until the child is 10 or 11 years old, at which time he or she will need a booster shot — most people get the Tdap vaccine.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine Side Effects
Unfortunately, in very rare cases, the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine causes severe side effects. These side effects are far less likely to occur than pertussis, but they do happen. In some cases, pertussis vaccine side effects cause permanent injury, disability, or death.
If you have been injured by the pertussis vaccine, you are not alone. You may be entitled to compensation. Contact a vaccine injury lawyer at The Clark Firm, LLP today if you have suffered any vaccine injury. Potential injuries may include the following:
- Allergic reaction, which may be life-threatening
- Anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock
- Encephalopathy (encephalitis)
- Seizure (staring or jerking) — approximately 1 per 14,000 children
- High fever (above 105) — approximately 1 per 16,000 children
- Long-term seizure disorders
- Coma
- Lowered consciousness
- Permanent brain damage
- Brachial neuritis (neurological and muscular disorder)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- And more
Pertussis Vaccine Injury Claims
Do you have a pertussis vaccine injury claim? You may qualify for up to $250,000 in financial compensation for your pertussis vaccine injury. The federal government has set up a special fund to compensate the victims of vaccine injuries. Since 1989, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out more than $2.4 billion to compensate people for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and more.
To be eligible to file a VICP vaccine injury lawsuit, you must meet the following criteria:
- The vaccine must have harmed you or your child. You may also be eligible if you are a legal guardian of a child or disabled adult who was harmed.
- Only serious injuries are eligible. The VICP defines this as injuries that lasted at least 6 months, or needed hospitalization or surgery, or caused physical/intellectual disability, or caused death.
- There is a limited amount of time to file a vaccine injury claim. You have 2 years to file a claim if the vaccine caused death, 3 years for an injury, and 4 years for an injury that later caused death.
Do I have a Pertussis 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 Pertussis Vaccine Lawsuit review.
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