An Alabama man recently filed a Zostavax lawsuit against Merck & Co., alleging the shingles vaccine caused shingles in the eye that has had lasting consequences for his vision.

The plaintiff, Robert H., says he was inoculated with Merck’s Zostavax shingles vaccine on Oct. 10, 2016, at a Walmart pharmacy. Unfortunately, instead of preventing Robert from getting shingles, the vaccine instead allegedly caused him to contract a strain of herpes zoster. This was exhibited by a rash on his face surrounding his left eye, he says, as well as headaches and loss of some vision in his left eye.

Less than a week later, on Oct. 16, he was diagnosed as suffering from shingles. Within two years, Robert says his vision had suffered so greatly from shingles in the eye that he had to undergo extracapsular cataract removal surgery in April 2018.

According to Robert’s Zostavax lawsuit, the shingles in the eye he developed after inoculation with Zostavax was a direct result of exposure to the drug. Ultimately, this has caused both physical injuries and costs for medical care and treatment, as well as further damages in the future.

Robert claims that Merck knew about the risk of shingles in the eye linked with its Zostavax vaccine, but failed to give adequate warning about this risk.

Robert filed his Zostavax lawsuit on Aug. 28, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Zostavax lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, and several others. Robert’s wife, Rita, also filed on one count of loss of consortium.

Basics of Zostavax

Zostavax was introduced to the market in May 2006 after its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Zostavax is manufactured by Merck, approved to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) in patients 60 and up.

Unfortunately, the use of the Zostavax vaccine has been associated with some serious shingles vaccine side effects, including the development of the very problem it is meant to prevent.

Patients have reported major shingles vaccine side effects that were not initially included in the warnings, including shingles blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and death. Since then, the FDA has updated the drug’s warnings to include vision damage from eye inflammation.

Zostavax shingles vaccine side effects usually appear between zero and six months after the vaccine is administered, though long-term injuries like neurological damage are also possible.

One lawsuit over shingles vaccine injuries and hundreds of serious adverse event reports have been filed over Zostavax shingles vaccine side effects, including reports of multiple deaths.

Filing a Zostavax Lawsuit

If you or someone you love have suffered from shingles in the eye or other side effects caused by Zostavax, you may be to join the growing number of Zostavax lawsuits being filed against Merck. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

The Zostavax Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-13262-JLL-JAD, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.