Vaccine Litigation: What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Can You Get it From a Flu Vaccine?

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a disorder that causes your immune system to attack part of your peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms are varying degrees of weakness, a tingling sensation in the legs that often times then spreads to the arms and upper body. They can be so intense that the muscles cannot be used at all and the patient is almost totally paralyzed. When it develops to this degree, the disorder can be life-threatening and is considered a medical emergency. Often times, patients are put on ventilators to assist with breathing. In most cases, patients recover from even the most severe cases of GBS although some continue to have varying degrees of weakness for the rest of their life.

GBS is rare. It usually occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally surgery has been thought to trigger the syndrome. It has been claimed and we have successfully helped patients recover damage through the National Vaccine Injury Program that GBS can be caused by the flu vaccine.

The government and many professionals in the health care industry deny a link. However, there is research showing a significant relationship between influenza like symptoms and contracting GBS. I was recently talking to one of the government’s attorneys in the vaccine injury program along with one of the Special Magistrates and was told that the government does not acknowledge a relationship. On the other hand, both the judge and I are aware of being involved in cases in which the government has paid money, and in some cases a substantial sum of money to compensate vaccine recipients who have contracted severe cases of GBS.

GBS can be contracted by both young and old. There was a recent story on MSNBC regarding a teenager who received the H1N1 vaccine and contracted GBS within hours. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33845867/ns/health-cold and flu/.

There was another case involving a person who had a flu shot and one month later became so weak that the person collapsed and was taken to the hospital while another case referenced a friend who had a flu shot and immediately was diagnosed with GBS and is unable to walk and is confined to a wheelchair.  Finally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention does reference that “on very rare occasions” GBS may be developed in the days or weeks after getting a vaccination. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/guillainbarre.htm.

Again, an experienced vaccine injury attorney can help you through answering the difficult questions whether you have GBS from a flu vaccine or other adverse reactions to the vaccines. Please contact me for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options and share your comments below.

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Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC

As the owner of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC, it is Stephanie’s mission to address each client’s goals for their estate plan. By identifying their wishes and concerns she can educate, guide, and counsel on the different tools and options that will effectively and efficiently accomplish those goals.

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