DTaP Vaccine Injury Lawyer

By leahdurantlaw on April 1, 2020 • ( 0 )

Bleeding Disorders, Shoulder Injuries, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Various Other Complications are Linked to the DTaP Vaccine

The DTaP vaccine is one of the primary vaccines that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for children under seven years of age. According to the CDC, children should receive four doses of the DTaP vaccine at two, four, six, and 15 to 18 months of age, and they should receive an additional shot between the ages of four and six years. While the DTaP vaccine is generally considered safe, it has several known complications, and parents of children diagnosed with these complications will need to seek help from a DTaP vaccine injury lawyer in order to recover just compensation.

What is the DTaP Vaccine?

The DTaP vaccine is one of several variants of the combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. It is administered via intramuscular injection in the shoulder or thigh. The CDC recommends DTaP for most children, though it recommends the DT vaccine for those who have had a prior adverse reaction (i.e. severe allergic reaction, seizure or severe fever) to a prior DTaP immunization.

There are currently two brands of DTaP vaccine that are approved for use in the United States. These are: (i) Daptacel®, which is manufactured by Sanofi, and (ii) Infanrix®, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Both formulations are inactivated vaccines, which means that they cannot cause diphtheria, pertussis or tetanus.

What are the Risks Associated with the DTaP Vaccine?

Unfortunately, like all vaccines, the DTaP vaccine carries a number of potential risks. Individual children’s chances of experiencing a severe complication from the DTaP vaccine vary depending on factors ranging from the child’s medical history to the location that the vaccine is administered. The risks associated with the DTaP vaccine include:

Anaphylaxis
Bleeding disorders
Brachial neuritis (or Parsonage-Turner Syndrome)
Encephalopathy or encephalitis
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)

What Can Parents Do if Their Children Have Experienced DTaP Vaccine Complications?

As a parent, if your child has been diagnosed with any of the above conditions following a DTaP vaccination, it will be important for you to learn about your family’s legal rights under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP allows families to recover their medical expenses and other losses without suing the pharmaceutical companies.

As a federal government program, the VICP pays “no-fault” compensation to families of children who have been diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. This includes complications from the DTaP vaccine. If your child’s symptoms onset within the timeframe prescribed by the VICP (which will usually be the case), then your family is entitled to recover just compensation without proving the specific cause of your child’s illness or disease.

Learn More from DTaP Vaccine Injury Attorney Leah V. Durant

If you would like to learn more about filing a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program related to your child’s DTaP vaccine injury, we invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with national vaccine injury attorney Leah V. Durant in confidence, call 202-800-1711 or request an appointment online today.