Leah Durant

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$135,000 Awarded to Prevnar Recipient Diagnosed with SIRVA

Prevnar is the name-brand pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all children under the age of two and all adults age 65 and older receive a Prevnar immunization. Vaccination against pneumococcal disease with Prevnar is also recommended for individuals between the ages of two and 65 who have certain medical conditions.

Like most vaccines, for adults, Prevnar is administered via injection in the shoulder. It has received FDA approval for a single-dose intramuscular (IM) injection, which means that the shot should be administered at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the skin in the thickest portion of the deltoid muscle. For proper administration, the needle should pass through the subcutaneous tissue beneath the skin and penetrate the muscle below.

Unfortunately, while still uncommon overall, mistakes during immunization are more common than many people realize. From injecting the vaccine too high in the shoulder or too low in the arm to inserting the needle too deep or at an incorrect angle, multiple mistakes during vaccine administration can lead to painful and debilitating injuries. These injuries are broadly classified as shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), and they can range in severity from causing short-term discomfort and immobility to triggering lifelong disabilities and chronic pain.

Shoulder Injury Resulting from Prevnar Vaccination Leads to VICP Award

Our firm recently represented an individual who was diagnosed with SIRVA following a pneumococcal disease vaccination with Prevnar. Attorney Leah V. Durant filed a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) on the individual’s behalf. After the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters ruled that our client was entitled to compensation under the VICP, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), represented by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), agreed to pay our client $135,000 in compensation for her medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

Demystifying Vaccine Injury Claims Under the VICP

While this may all sound complicated, the reality is that securing financial compensation under the VICP is a far simpler process than taking on a hospital or medical clinic to court. In fact, while this case in particular went to a ruling, it is not unusual for VICP claims to be resolved via “stipulation,” which is roughly the equivalent of an out-of-court settlement in ordinary personal injury litigation. With the right evidence and the right legal representation, individuals diagnosed with SIRVA and other vaccine-related injuries will often be able to secure compensation through the VICP in a matter of months; and, since the VICP pays claimants’ legal fees separately from their compensation awards, claimants can engage legal counsel at little or no financial cost.

Legal Representation for Vaccine Injury Claims Nationwide

Vaccine attorney Leah V. Durant provides nationwide legal representation for individuals diagnosed with SIRVA and other vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. If you or a loved one has experienced shoulder pain following a Prevnar injection or other immunization, it is important to seek medical and legal help right away. To request a free and confidential consultation at the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, please call 202-800-1711 or inquire online today.

Leah Durant Bio

Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.