If you or someone you love suffered an injury or illness related to a vaccine, you may have the legal right to pursue compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) created by the federal government.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
Unfortunately, in some cases, people suffer side effects that are serious after taking a vaccine. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 requires that medical professionals report when such an injury or illness occurs. Due to the fact that there are substantial numbers of victims of vaccine injuries, the federal government created a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This data is collected by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A person, or parent, must have the assistance of a medical professional to make a claim into VAERS.
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
Additionally, the federal government created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) to provide compensation to those people or families that suffered injuries or losses as a direct result of a vaccine. In order to obtain compensation, there is a long and complex process where a victim must prove that they suffered injuries to the Health and Human Services, which is represented by the United States Department of Justice. Victims can receive compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund for several different types of injuries related to specific vaccinations including the following:
- Diphtheria – Tetanus – Pertussis (DTP, DTaP, etc.)
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type b polysaccharide conjugate (Hib)
- Hepatitis A (Hep A)
- Hepatitis B (Hep B)
- Human Papillomavirus
- Measles (offered in the MMR, MR, M shots)
- Measles – Mumps – Rubella (MMR, MR, R)
- Pneumococcal
- Polio inactivated virus (IPV)
- Polio live virus (OPV)
- Rotavirus
- Rubella virus (offered in the MMR, MR, R shots)
- Seasonal flu vaccine
- Tetanus Toxoid (TT, Td)
- Varicella (“Chicken pox”)
Statute of Limitations (Deadline to File a Claim)
Victims of vaccine injuries only have three years following the first symptoms attributable to the vaccine to file a claim. If the vaccine injury results in a death, the family member of the victim has the legal right to pursue a claim for two years following the death of the victim, or four years after the first symptom was noticed.
Contact an Experienced Vaccine Lawyer
Filing a claim to receive compensation for a vaccine injury can be a complicated legal process. Originally, the National Injury Compensation Program was established to be a non-adversarial, and non-litigious process. However, these cases often turn into complex and legally challenging issues, and most victims discover that they need strong legal counsel to ensure their rights are protected. If you or someone you loved suffered injuries related to a vaccine, contact our compassionate legal team today and learn how an experienced personal injury attorney at Griggs Injury Law at (816) 474-0202 can help you with your vaccine injury case.
