The FDA and the CDC knew that the vaccine Zostavax could be dangerous. Yet, over 36 million people aged 50 and older received the shingles vaccine. However, by March 2018, the FDA had received 102,962 reports of Zostavax side effects including autoimmune disorders.
About Zostavax
Zostavax vaccinates against shingles. Shingles are the same virus that causes chickenpox. Whereas chickenpox affects the younger population, shingles occur in those over 60. Approved by the FDA in 2006, it was the only shingles vaccine until 2017 when Shingrix came on the market. Zostavax works by a doctor injecting a patient with a weak, living form of the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox and shingles. This vaccine has 17x more live varicella zoster virus in it than the chickenpox vaccine.
Merck manufactures the live virus in fetal lung cells, which can end up in the vaccine causing serious side effects.
Zostavax Autoimmune Disorders
Zostavax can cause autoimmune disorders to spread throughout the body. Usually, these effects present within six months of injection. They include:
The common autoimmune disorders linked to Zostavax are:
- Lupus
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
- Traverse Myelitis
- Meningitis
- Facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Optic neuritis
- Vasculitis
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Side effects of Zostavax may happen in minutes or months. Some last a few days or the rest of his or her life. A woman in a 2011 study suffered vision loss after six days. Another developed a rash and fever within a few days and then, lost his vision two months later.
Free Legal Consultation
If the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling drug is found to be highly reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future. Therefore, if you developed an autoimmune disorder after taking Zostavax, please speak to us to learn more about your rights.
