A vaccine injury is an injury caused by a vaccination. Across the nation, a number of children—and even adults—have been injured by adverse vaccine reactions.
A surprisingly large number of vaccines administered to patients cause adverse reactions. First on the list are probably the Tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (DTaP, Tdap, DTP-Hib, DT, Td, and TT). Once popularly known under the umbrella term “lockjaw,” this toxoid can even be deadly if not diffused in the body quickly enough.
Another group of dangerous vaccines are used to suppress pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. The Pertussis antigen-containing vaccines (DTaP, Tdap, DTP, P, DTP-Hib) are seldom fatal these days, but can cause serious injury with lasting complications.
Vaccines used to suppress measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) all contain a potent virus. This particular group in any combination (MMR, MR, M, R) is especially dangerous to children suffering from immune disorders or to pregnant women. The rubella grouping is typically one of these (MMR, MR, R).
Polio vaccines are the vestigial link to what was once a rare but extremely feared disease that was seldom fatal but was known to be incapacitating for long periods, causing respiratory distress and fairly common paralysis, especially in children (infantile paralysis). The group of vaccines of polio live virus-containing vaccines (OPV) can still be a threat – especially in the Deep South. Polio inactivated-virus containing vaccines (IPV) are less likely to cause active symptoms.
Hepatitis B antigen-containing vaccines (Engerix-B, Recombivax HB, Twinrix) can also cause adverse reactions especially in patients prone to auto-immune disorders.
The list is rounded out with a number of potentially dangerous vaccinate materials including:
- Hemophilus influenzae (type b polysaccharide conjugate vaccines)
- Varicella vaccine (Varivax chicken pox virus vaccine and ProQuad)
- Rotavirus vaccine (Rota Teq )
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (Prevnar)
- Hepatitis A vaccines (Havrix, VAQTA, and Twinrix)
- Trivalent influenza vaccines (Flu vaccines including FluMist, a live attenuated influenza virus vaccine; and injectable influenza vaccines FluShield, Fluvirin, Fluzone, and Afluria)
- Meningococcal vaccines – meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), Menactra
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix)
This list changes often so if you or a loved one may have been injured by a vaccination, an attorney should be contacted who deals with such cases and will undertake an investigation.
Alexandra Reed writes for Connecticut personal injury law firm, Stratton Faxon. Contact Stratton Faxon to speak with a Connecticut accident lawyer about your personal injury, wrongful death, or Connecticut malpractice case. To learn more, visit Strattonfaxon.com.
