Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
A practical overview of conditions that may appear in vaccine injury matters and the evidence a VICP review may require.
A few important reminders
Plain-language answers
Vaccine injury matters can involve GBS, ADEM, Bell’s palsy, SIRVA, CIDP, encephalitis, anaphylaxis, shoulder injuries, and other conditions listed on the applicable Table or supported by medical causation evidence. The list is not exhaustive, and a condition may have causes unrelated to vaccination.
SIRVA means shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. It generally describes shoulder pain and limited movement that begin after an injection, often involving bursitis, tendon injury, or other shoulder pathology. Medical evaluation and the applicable Table requirements are important.
GBS is a neurological disorder in which the immune system damages peripheral nerves, sometimes causing weakness, tingling, or paralysis. Some GBS claims may fit a Vaccine Injury Table entry, while others require evidence addressing causation and timing; the individual medical record controls.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, is an inflammatory condition affecting the brain and spinal cord that can cause neurological symptoms. A VICP review may consider the diagnosis, onset, testing, treatment, other possible causes, and the applicable Table entry.
There is no single timeframe for every injury. The applicable Vaccine Injury Table sets the required onset window for a listed injury, and an off-table claim may require a medical explanation of the timing. Document the first symptom as accurately as possible.
Seek appropriate medical care and follow your provider’s instructions. Tell the provider when and where the vaccine was given, describe the first symptoms and progression, request copies of records, preserve the vaccination record, and write down the timeline while it is fresh.
Useful evidence may include the vaccination record, contemporaneous medical records, diagnostic tests, specialist opinions, treatment and rehabilitation records, employment or income records, and a timeline of symptoms, limitations, and expenses. Expert review may be needed in complex cases.
Potential compensation may include eligible medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses allowed by the VICP. The value depends on the documented injury, prognosis, expenses, limitations, and applicable statutory rules; no result can be promised from a diagnosis alone.
Many VICP injury petitions are subject to a three-year period after the first symptom or significant aggravation, but death claims and certain Table changes can create different rules. A prompt legal review is important even if treatment is still ongoing.
Contact an attorney when symptoms are serious, persistent, or medically unexplained after vaccination, and do so well before any possible deadline. Counsel can help distinguish medical care from legal proof and identify what records may be needed.
This page is for general information only. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. VICP petitions are filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Eligibility, deadlines, evidence, potential compensation, and results depend on the facts of each matter, the applicable Vaccine Injury Table, and the rules in effect when the claim is evaluated. No result is guaranteed.
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Questions about a vaccine injury can be time-sensitive. Call the firm or schedule a confidential consultation to discuss the records, timing, and possible path for your situation.
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