If you or your loved one was injured by measles vaccine side effects, you could receive up to $250,000 in compensation for your pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, lost income, and more. Experts recommend that all children be immunized against measles, but sometimes, the vaccine can cause serious, life-threatening, or deadly side effects. Though rare, these side effects include seizures, blood disorders, brain damage, allergic reaction, and more.
What You Can Do & How a Measles Vaccine Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting measles vaccine injury claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the measles vaccine, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Vaccine Injury Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Measles Vaccine Overview
The measles vaccine immunizes against measles, a serious viral disease that infects the respiratory system. It is highly contagious, and easily spread on coughed droplets or sneezes. Measles was nearly eradicated in the U.S. and Canada after the measles vaccine became widely available. However, today, the incidence is rising.
Most children are immunized against measles with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The MMR vaccine is given in two doses, at ages 12-15 months and 4-6 years. The measles vaccine may be given earlier when there is a current outbreak of measles. Some people may be given just the measles vaccination, or a measles plus rubella vaccination (MR vaccine).
Measles Vaccine Side Effects
The chance of suffering a side effect after being immunized against measles is very unlikely, but severe side effects do happen. People who suffer a severe measles vaccine side effect may be permanently injured, disabled, or killed.
The risk of a measles vaccine side effect is greatest for the MMRV vaccine, which is a combination immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). People who get this vaccine have a higher risk of seizures, fever, and rash.
The measles vaccine (and combination vaccines that contain the measles vaccine) may cause the following severe side effects:
- Swelling of the glands in the cheek or neck
- Seizure (jerking or staring) caused by fever (occurs in one per 3,000 doses)
- Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints
- Low blood platelet count, which can cause a permanent blood disorder (occurs in one per 30,000 doses)
- Severe, life-threatening allergic reaction (occurs in one per 1,000,000 doses)
- Long-term seizure disorders
- Lowered consciousness
- Permanent brain damage
- Encephalopathy (encephalitis)
- Chronic arthritis
- Thrombocytopenic purpura (blood disorder)
- Vaccine-Strain Measles viral infection
- And more
Measles Vaccine Injury Claims
Do you have a measles vaccine injury claim? You are not alone. Although millions of people take vaccines safely, every year, some people are seriously injured. To help these people, in 1989, Congress established the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) with a $0.75 tax on all vaccines. If you decide to file a measles vaccine lawsuit, you could receive as much as $250,000 to cover your past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and more.
Most people decide to hire a qualified, experienced vaccine injury attorney. Your attorney can help you make the best case possible, for the highest amount of money possible. When your claim goes to the federal Vaccine Court in Washington D.C., experts must be convinced that there is a very high likelihood that your injury was actually caused by the vaccine. If they are convinced, they will award compensation.
Not all vaccine injuries are eligible for a vaccine injury lawsuit. First, you must meet the following criteria:
- The injury must be serious — the injury must have lasted for at least six months, or caused disability or death, or required surgery or hospitalization.
- Only people directly injured by the vaccine are allowed to file a claim. The vaccine must have harmed you, your child, or your family member who was disabled or killed by the vaccine. You may also file a claim if you are the legal guardian of an injured child or disabled adult.
- You have a limited amount of time to file a measles vaccine injury claim. Claims for death must be filed within two years, claims for injury must be filed within three years, and claims for an injury which eventually caused death must be filed within four years.
Through January 1, 2012, the VICP has reviewed a total of 162 measles vaccine injury claims (143 for injuries, and 19 for deaths). Of these, the VICP awarded compensation to 55 claims, and dismissed 107 claims.
Do I have a Measles Vaccine Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting measles vaccine injury claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by the measles vaccine, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Vaccine Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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