Guillain-Barre Syndrome and the Flu Vaccine

Do You Need a Vaccination Injury Attorney?

Were you or someone you care about diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)? Did you begin developing symptoms two to six weeks after receiving a flu shot? If so, your illness could be related to your flu shot and therefore, we can help.

You might be surprised to know there is a government program that helps people who suffer an injury or illness after receiving a flu shot and certain other vaccines. The program provides money for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) was developed because while immunizations are safe for most, there is a small chance some people will have an adverse reaction. Those reactions can cause severe and sometimes lifelong injuries and illnesses.

The program is fully funded through a small tax placed on every vaccine given in the United States. You won't have to pay a penny to get the money you deserve—not even for legal fees.

The program is a no-fault alternative to the traditional legal system. You're not filing a lawsuit, and you're not suing anybody. You're applying to receive money from a fund set up for people like you who qualify for compensation.

Time is critical! Vaccine injury victims are required to comply with strict deadlines in order to be eligible for financial compensation. With few exceptions, claims must be filed within three years of your first symptom of the injury believed to be caused by a vaccine, or within two years of a death believed to be caused by an immunization.

If you or a loved one is suffering, let us help. We will connect you with an experienced attorney who will file your claim, and handle all the paperwork and hassles so you can concentrate on what's most important: Your health.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)?

About 3,000 people develop Guillaine-Barre Syndrome each year in the United States. It is a rare disorder where your immune system damages your nerve cells.

Anyone can develop GBS, but the Centers for Disease Control report it is most common in older adults. People 50 and older are at greatest risk.

Three large government-sponsored studies concluded that adults who receive flu shots are at a higher risk of developing GBS.

Scientists cannot pinpoint why, but people who receive flu shots are at an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Symptoms are generally present two to six weeks after receiving the flu shot.

Symptoms of Guillaine-Barre Syndrome include:

• Limb weakness and reduced muscle reflexes
• Abnormal muscle sensations
• Possible respiratory failure
• Possible paralysis
• In rare cases, death

What is the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program?

In the early 1980s, news reports surfaced that questioned the safety and side effects of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine more commonly known as DTP. Parents began filing lawsuits against medical providers and vaccine manufacturers, which could have caused pharmaceutical companies to stop production of vaccines, causing shortages.

To prevent lawsuits and make sure the immunization rate in the United States remained steady, The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 created the VICP to compensate people injured after receiving vaccines.

Vaccines and Injuries Covered by the VICP

The VICP provides money to people who were severely injured as a result of receiving certain vaccines. New vaccines are sometimes added to the list. Right now, the vaccines covered by the program include:

• Diphtheria (DTP, DTaP, Tdap, DT, Td, TT)
• Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide conjugate vaccines (Hib)
• Hepatitis A (HAV)
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Seasonal influenza (Flu)
• Measles (MMR)
• Mumps (MMR, MR, M)
• Meningococcal (MCV4, MPSV4)
• Pertussis (DTP, DTaP, Tdap)
• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
• Polio (OPV or IPV)
• Rotavirus (RV)
• Rubella (MMR, MR, R)
• Tetanus (Td)
• Varicella (VAR)

The program includes a table of covered illnesses and injuries, which include:

• Anaphylactic shock
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Brachial neuritis
• Chronic arthritis
• Paralytic polio
• Encephalitis

How Does the VICP Work?

Anyone who received a covered vaccine and believes they have been injured or been sickened as a result of receiving a vaccine may file a claim. Claims can be filed on behalf of children, disabled adults, and the deceased by:

• Parents
• Legal guardians
• Legal representatives

The process to apply for money through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program includes many steps:

1. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviews the petition to determine if it meets the required medical criteria.
2. The U.S. Department of Justice creates a report that includes medical recommendations and legal analysis that is submitted to the court.
3. The report is presented to a court-appointed 'special master'—the person who ultimately decides whether a person should receive financial compensation, and if so, how much.
4. The court orders the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to award the compensation.

Please note: You also have the right appeal the court decision. You may also reject a settlement and file a claim in civil court against the vaccine company and/or the health care provider who administered the vaccine.

Contact a Skilled Vaccine Injury Attorney

If you are suffering from GBS or another injury or illness you believe was caused by a vaccine, don’t wait—contact Edgar Snyder & Associates today for a free consultation. We will connect you with an attorney with nearly 20 years of experience representing people through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation program who have suffered severe injuries and illnesses.

There's no fee. You won't pay one penny. You keep 100 percent of the money you are awarded—that's the way the program works.

If you have a vaccine injury case, we will connect you with an attorney experienced with the VICP to help ensure a successful outcome of your claim.

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