(HBV)
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis B, a serious disease that attacks the liver, and can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Rates of HBV infection are highest among adults aged 40-49 years. Up to 2 million people in the United States are chronically infected with HBV, many of whom don’t know that they have it. Because the disease can be transmitted by casual contact, and so many people don’t know they have it, it has been difficult to control HBV infections.
Hepatitis B is spread when bodily fluids from an infected person enter the body of someone who is not infected, and not vaccinated. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles or syringes; or from mother to baby at birth.
In the United States, hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian Americans. While Asian Americans make up 6% of the US population, they account for more than 60% of Americans living with hepatitis B.
Worldwide, about 900,000 people die each year from hepatitis B, with about 2,000 of these deaths occurring in the United States.
Since the United States began recommending the hepatitis B vaccine for all infants and young children, the incidence of hepatitis B is starting to decline. In fact, hepatitis B has been virtually eliminated in children under 19 years old in the United States.
Learn more about the hepatitis B vaccine.
Most side effects after vaccination are mild. They include:
- Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given
- Mild fever
- Chills
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Muscle and joint aches
Although serious side effects following vaccination are rare, they do occur.
The U.S. government created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to reimburse people who suffer a serious injury as the result of a vaccine.
All vaccines administered to children and many vaccines administered to adults are covered by the federal vaccine program, including the hepatitis B vaccine.
Serious injuries that can occur after a hepatitis B vaccine include:
- GBS (Guillain-Barré syndrome)
- SIRVA (Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration)
- CIDP (Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy)
- AIDP (Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy)
- ADEM (Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis)
- ITP (Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
- TP (thrombocytopenic purpura)
- Transverse myelitis (TM)
- Central nervous disorders
- Encephalopathy
- Anaphylaxis
- Brachial neuritis
- Rotator cuff tear
- Vasovagal syncope
- Injection site injury
- Abscess
- Shoulder injury
- Arm injury
The vaccine program will only consider compensation when injuries persist and require ongoing medical care for longer than six months.
If you or your child suffered an illness or injury after a hepatitis B vaccine, contact our office for a free consultation with a member of our experienced vaccine team. Click here to see if you may be eligible to compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Our experienced vaccine injury team will discuss your options with you. If you are eligible, we can guide you through the process of applying to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and help you get all the compensation you deserve.
We have represented people with vaccine injuries for more than thirty years. We know that these injuries can be life-changing and debilitating.
Our consultation is free, and if you win an award, our fees do not come out of your settlement. Any attorney’s fees are paid separately by the Vaccine Fund. You will never pay a fee for our assistance.