Vaccine injury guide
Anaphylaxis
A severe, sudden, whole-body allergic reaction involving two or more organ systems — for example hives plus throat swelling, or vomiting plus a drop in blood pressure. It is a medical emergency and is usually treated on the spot with epinephrine.
Signs to look for
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, throat tightness
- Hives, flushing, or swelling of the face and lips
- Rapid or weak pulse, dizziness, fainting
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea alongside the above
Which vaccines
On the Table for most injectable vaccines: tetanus-containing, pertussis-containing, MMR, IPV, hepatitis B, varicella, flu, meningococcal, HPV.
- tetanus toxoid
- pertussis antigens
- measles, mumps, and rubella virus
- inactivated polio virus
- Hepatitis B vaccines
- Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines
- Seasonal influenza vaccines
- Meningococcal vaccines
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines
Is it on the Table?
Yes: onset within 4 hours of vaccination. Because most anaphylaxis resolves, a claim usually requires either a death, or hospitalization with surgery, or lasting effects beyond six months.
The deadline
Three years from the reaction, or two years from a death.
Think this is you?
Describe your symptoms and the date of the shot. An attorney who handles these cases will tell you whether it is worth filing — at no cost to you, because the program pays the fee.