Vaccines are indeed a lifesaver, and the importance of getting vaccinated has never been more so emphasized around the globe. Essentially, vaccines are the most effective way to avoid contracting infectious diseases. They teach your immune system in producing antibodies that’ll safeguard your body from potential illnesses. Also, vaccines protect individuals from experiencing the symptoms of an infectious disease.
Vaccines exist in a plethora of forms. Scientists dedicated a great deal of time and effort to researching, developing, experimenting, and testing these vaccines to ensure that they’ll never harm people. Within a million people, there’s only one to two individuals that can potentially experience adverse side effects after a vaccine shot, which means that your possibility of encountering this is only 0.000001% to 0.000002%.
Analyzing A Vaccine’s Side Effects
Before obtaining any vaccine shot, it’s important to know everything about it, including the vaccine’s content and anticipated side effects, whether mild, concerning, or unordinary. This way, you’ll be able to understand the benefits and potential risks that come with your immunization, allowing you to make an informed choice.
Although immunizations are administered around the world, not all people know the ingredients of their vaccine. Basically, the primary ingredient of a vaccine is a small amount of weakened virus, bacteria, or toxin that has been treated in the laboratory. Some vaccine manufacturers also add ingredients to make it safer and more effective, including egg protein, aluminum, antibiotics, pork gelatin, squalene oil, formaldehyde, and human serum and recombinant albumin.
The following are the common side effects of vaccine shots that you should expect to experience in the next 24 to 48 hours:
- Mild fever, chills, and lethargy
- Head, muscle, and joint aches
- Pain, swelling, irritation, and redness around the injection site
- Fainting, but unlikely
- Allergic reactions, but very unlikely and subsides immediately
Is There Anything That Could Go Wrong?
Despite the studies and pieces of evidence provided by immunizations, not everyone agrees on vaccinations, which is known as the anti-vaxxers. The two prominent reasons why these people oppose vaccinations are (1) vaccines may cause autism and (2) children receive too many vaccines. But is there really anything that can go wrong with your immunization?
Vaccines are made to protect people from life-threatening conditions, and not cause them, so the answer is a no. However, in extremely rare cases, vaccines can induce a serious health problem. While these are very unlikely to happen, individuals who’ll suffer from these side effects can get compensation and receive the right treatment.
All About Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
One of the rarest after-effects of vaccines that you might experience is the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and its primary symptom is when the arm is numb after a flu shot.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an ailment with the autonomic nervous system (ANS), causing weakness or paralysis of the extremities, including the legs, arms, hands, and feet. It can also cause numbness or tingling on the affected areas, especially in the hands and feet. It may also cause involuntary muscle spasms, such as clumsiness and weakness in an individual’s legs.
Many people with Guillain-Barre Syndrome recover with time, even if they have severe cases. Guillain-Barre Syndrome doesn’t usually affect any major organ of the body, although it has been known to cause problems with the kidneys or liver. Because of the difficulty that it causes in moving muscles, some patients may also experience difficulty breathing while they’re experiencing the symptoms.
There’s no known cure for Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The treatment options for this disorder include taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), undergoing plasmapheresis, receiving immunoglobulin, or receiving antibodies.
Getting Compensation For A Failed Vaccine Shot
In the event that you experience an uncommon and adverse side effect of your administered vaccine shot, you can reach out to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). You’ll only be compensated if you’ve successfully filed a petition, and it has been proven that a specific VICP-covered vaccine caused your injury or illness. In some cases, those who filed a petition can still receive compensation without findings through a settlement.
The VICP was implemented in the 1980s after lawsuits were filed against healthcare providers and vaccine companies. To prevent the decrease of vaccination rates and vaccine shortages in the US, the VICP was established. Injury claim compensations are nothing new today as they also occur in the workplace, motor accidents, medical negligence, and public liability.
If you believe that you’re injured by a vaccine, you have the right to file a petition or represent yourself on behalf of an injured child, person with a disability, or a deceased person. The US Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, and The Court are involved in this legal process. The compensation encompasses your legal and medical expenses, as well as making up for your loss of future earning potential, which can reach up to USD$250,000.
Takeaways
Everything comes with risks, and vaccinations are no exception. Nevertheless, vaccinations and immunizations are formulated by professionals to be flawless and effective, and these adverse side effects might be associated with the safety of administering the shot, health complications, and other unknown factors.
Still, it’s still safer to obtain a vaccine shot to prevent a deadly disease rather than turn down your vaccination and contract the disease that it prevents.
