Can Vaccination Trigger Autoimmune Disorders?

An autoimmune illness occurs when the body reacts against itself. Common diseases associated with autoimmune response include Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

Usually, autoimmune diseases are induced by genetic predisposition and sometimes by bacterial or viral infections. For instance, the influenza virus can aggravate symptoms of multiple sclerosis, an illness of the central nervous system.

Since natural infections often trigger autoimmune diseases, patients are concerned about whether vaccines can cause autoimmunity conditions. Many vaccines are widely associated with rare and severe medical conditions, including immune disorders.

Although there’s a debate on the trigger of the disorders, many people believe they might be vaccine-related.

Consider speaking to a trusted vaccine injury attorney for legal advice if you’ve sustained an illness or injury after a vaccine shot.

How Vaccines Work: A Brief Overview

A vaccine helps the body learn how to respond to a disease without undergoing the danger of a full-blown infection. The vaccine is designed to imitate an infection— through the presence of a disease-causing organism— which activates the body’s natural defense system.

That way, if you encounter a disease-causing organism—pathogen— your body has a ready plan of attack.

What’s herd immunity?

When someone is vaccinated, they are mostly protected against specific infectious diseases or disease-causing organisms. However, some people do not get the vaccine due to underlying health conditions.

Those people may be protected if they live in and amongst those vaccinated. When many people in a community are vaccinated against a specific disease, the pathogen has difficulty circulating since it mostly encounters immune people.

So, the higher the number of vaccinated people, the less likely people who cannot get vaccinated are at risk of being exposed to the disease-causing microorganisms.

Investigating the Link: Flu Vaccines and Autoimmune Diseases

According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, the attributable risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after a flu vaccine is 1-3 in 1,000,000, confirming it occurs in a rare event.

Therefore, no substantial association exists between influenza vaccination and adverse effects in patients with autoimmune diseases. More importantly, influenza viral infection carries a higher risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome than the flu vaccine.

Vaccine Adjuvants and Autoimmune Responses

An adjuvant is an ingredient included in some vaccines to create a more robust immune response for people receiving the vaccine. Simply put, adjuvants help vaccines work better. Common adjuvants include aluminum, AS04, Matrix, MF59, AS01B, CpG 1018, and Matrix-MTM.

Shoefield and co-workers stationed in Israel identified an illness they termed autoimmune, autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). However, various studies have rejected the claim.

For instance, a study evaluated 18,000 patients who received subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy with large quantities of injected aluminum adjuvants. Patients who received injected aluminum adjuvants had a lower incidence rate of autoimmune disease in comparison with controls.

Can Vaccines Cause Autoimmune Disorders?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) states that vaccines are generally safe, with the risk of immunization much lower than choosing not to take the vaccine. Even so, many vaccines are widely known to have associations with certain dangerous and rare medical conditions.

For instance, studies show that the Influenza vaccine can cause GBS at a rate of one case per a million recipients. Even so, the risk of autoimmune disorders is low compared to natural influenza infection, which causes GBS at the rate of 17 per million infected people.

Here’s a list of autoimmune diseases linked with vaccines:

• Lupus
• Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
• Chronic arthritis
• Connective Tissue Disorder
• Kawasaki Disease
• Neuromyelitis Optica
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Autoimmune Hepatitis

Legal Assistance for Vaccine Injury Claims

Suppose you or a loved one has started experiencing symptoms of immune deficiency or autoimmune disorder after receiving the vaccination. In that case, you may be entitled to compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a no-fault option to the traditional legal system for resolving vaccine injury cases.

Individuals of any age who believe they sustained an injury or illness after taking a covered vaccine can file a petition. Legal representatives, legal guardians, and parents can file a claim on behalf of disabled adults, children, and deceased individuals.

How an Attorney Can Help

Vaccine injury cases involve complex legal and medical issues. They are primarily litigated using specific procedures that apply to vaccine injury claims. Therefore, if you’ve suffered an illness or injury after taking a vaccine, you should choose your legal representative carefully.

An experienced vaccine injury attorney has the skills and knowledge to handle your claim for the best results.

Here’s how an attorney will enhance your chances of success:

• Demonstrate the Gravity of Your Case: An attorney has in-depth knowledge of how a vaccine injury can drastically impact your life in the short and long run. They will apply their expertise to communicate the impact of the injury to the VICP board. They can also estimate the value of your losses by evaluating the extent of the injury, lost income, medical expenses, and worsening quality of life.
• Gathering Evidence: An injured victim must prove the extent of the injury to obtain a fair settlement value for their losses. A vaccine injury attorney can help you compile supporting evidence, including medical records, specialist reports, or billing statements.
• Maximizing Your Settlement Value: You can only bounce back from a vaccine injury if you receive a settlement award that matches your losses. Since the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) attracts numerous applicants, it may table a low offer to reduce payouts. A vaccine injury attorney will apply their skills to negotiate a better offer matching your losses.

Get in Touch With an Experienced Vaccine Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has developed an autoimmune disorder after receiving vaccination, you deserve compensation for the illness-related loss. Working with an experienced vaccine injury attorney enhances your chances of receiving a fair settlement offer.

Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates is a team of highly experienced attorneys that provides representation for vaccine immune disorder claims and other vaccine-related disorders.

Contact us online or at (888) 921-3995 for a free case evaluation.