Meningitis Vaccine Lawsuit

If the meningitis vaccine caused serious injury to you, your child, or your loved one, you may have a meningitis vaccine injury claim. Although meningitis vaccine side effects are rare, they do occur. For example, anaphylaxis (a whole-body allergic reaction) can cause a person’s throat to swell, cutting off the airway, potentially causing permanent disability or death. Other severe side effects have also been reported, including fainting spells and more. If you decide to file a meningitis vaccine lawsuit with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), you could be entitled to as much as $250,000 in financial compensation.

What You Can Do & How a Meningitis Vaccine Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting meningitis vaccine injury claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by meningitis vaccine side effects, 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.

Meningitis Vaccine Overview

Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease caused by the meningococcal bacteria. It causes an infection of the spinal cord and the covering of the brain. It can also cause a life-threatening blood infection. Every year, 1,000-1,200 people get meningitis, usually infants or young adults. Of these, 10-15% die from the disease, and 11-19% have long-term complications — including amputated limbs, nervous system disorders, deafness, intellectual disability, permanent seizure disorders, or strokes.

The best way to prevent meningitis is with the meningitis vaccine. There are three types of meningitis vaccines:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4): Usually given to people less than 55 years old. Given in two shots, one at ages 11-12, and a booster shot at age 16. Many colleges require this vaccine before entering freshman dorms, where meningitis outbreaks can occur.
• Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4): The only vaccine given to people older than 55 years.
• MenHibrix: A recently-approved combination of vaccines for meningitis and Hib disease, meant for children ages 6 weeks to 18 months

Meningitis Vaccine Side Effects

Side effects are more common with the MCV4 vaccine than the MPSV4 vaccine. These side effects occur in approximately half of people who get this vaccine, and they are usually mild, such as a sore arm or a low-grade fever. In rare cases, however, vaccines can cause severe side effects, permanent disability, or death. Serious side effects may include, but are not limited to:

• High-grade fever (above 105 degrees)
• Brief fainting spells, which can cause falls or injuries
• Jerking, seizure-like movements
• Serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock)
• Brain damage
• Intellectual or physical disability
• Death
• And more

Meningitis Vaccine Injury Claim

In the late 1980s, the U.S. government established the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). By placing a $0.75 tax on all vaccines sold in the country, they created a fund to compensate the victims of vaccine injuries. The VICP also protected vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits, which helped ensure a steady supply of vaccines. The VICP is allowed to award a maximum of $250,000 for each meningitis vaccine injury claim. In total, the VICP has paid out more than $2.4 billion to the victims of vaccine injuries.

If you or your loved one has suffered a meningitis vaccine side effect, you could be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, decreased quality of life, legal expenses, and more. Most people decide to hire a vaccine injury lawyer to help them file a claim, and make the best case possible.

Although meningitis vaccine injury claims have a very high rate of compensation, not all injury claims are awarded compensation. The court must be convinced that there is a high probability that your injury was actually caused by the vaccine.

Before you can file a meningitis vaccine lawsuit, you must also meet the following criteria:

• The meningitis vaccine must have harmed you, or your child, or your deceased/disabled family member. The legal guardians of disabled adults or children may also be eligible to file a vaccine injury claim.
• The VICP only accepts serious injuries caused by the meningitis vaccine. For example, the injury must have caused disability, or death, or lasted for at least 6 months, or required hospitalization or surgery.
• You have a limited amount of time to file your meningitis vaccine injury claim. You have 2 years for a claim for death, 3 years for an injury claim, and 4 years for an injury that eventually caused death.

The VICP has reviewed or is currently reviewing 24 meningitis vaccine lawsuits, including 23 vaccine injury claims and 1 claim for death caused by this vaccine. So far, the VICP has awarded compensation for 10 claims, and dismissed 2 claims.

Do I have a Meningitis Vaccine Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting meningitis vaccine injury claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by meningitis vaccine side effects, 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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