Zostavax, a vaccine used to protect against herpes zoster (shingles) in people aged 50 years and older, has been found to be ineffective, and instead actually increases the risk of serious side effects including encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain typically resulting from either a viral infection or the body’s own immune system attacking brain tissue.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with encephalitis after receiving the Zostavax shingles vaccine, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
How Does Zostavax Work?
Manufactured by Merck & Co., Zostavax is a shingles vaccine intended for patients aged 50 years and older. The product is the only live virus shingles vaccine currently available on the U.S. market, according to the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults 60 and older receive a dose of the vaccine.
What’s the Problem?
The problem with the Zostavax vaccine is that it has been proven to be ineffective, and can instead cause a host of severe, potentially life-threatening side effects, and can actually even cause shingles, the very condition the vaccine is supposed to protect against. One of the most serious side effects linked to Zostavax, however, is a severe type of swelling in the brain called encephalitis.
Shingles Vaccine May Cause Encephalitis, Other Serious Side Effects
Encephalitis is characterized by an acute inflammation of the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most cases are caused by either a viral infection or the immune system mistakenly attacking brain tissue. However, in rare cases, the small amount of herpes zoster virus introduced to the body via the Zostavax Vaccine may cause encephalitis and other serious side effects.
Encephalitis Symptoms
Common symptoms of encephalitis may include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Photophobia (excessive sensitivity to light)
- General weakness
- Seizures
In more serious cases, symptoms may include:
- Severe headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Memory loss
- Speech problems
- Hearing problems
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Coma
Zostavax Side Effects
In addition to being potentially linked to encephalitis, serious side effects of Zostavax vaccine may include:
- Shingles
- Chickenpox
- Injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, swelling, warmth, bruising)
- Allergic reactions
- Vision damage / keratitis
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Joint and/or muscle pain
- Skin rash
- Death
- And more
Do I Have a Zostavax Encephalitis Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Zostavax lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new encephalitis cases in all 50 states.
Free Zostavax Encephalitis Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one had encephalitis after receiving the Zostavax vaccine, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a class action suit and we can help.