Merck & Co. has been facing litigation over shingles vaccine injury claims from patients alleging they suffered serious side effects soon after receiving the shot.

One of the most recent Zostavax lawsuits was filed by a couple claiming that Merck failed to disclose the full severity of the potential side effects.

Plaintiff Paul L. says he developed a shingles vaccine injury soon after receiving the inoculation. Paul says he had a variety latent reaction and was not aware of the serious adverse reactions associated with the shot until recently.

Along with his wife Nancy L., Paul alleges that Merck did not provide any additional warnings beyond the Zostavax patient brochure and that he had no reason to be wary of a severe reaction to the vaccine.

Zostavax is a vaccine consisting of weakened chickenpox virus, which purportedly helps prepare the immune system prevent shingles. Shingles is often characterized by painful rashes thought to be caused by a reaction to the dormant chickenpox virus.

Generally speaking, patients who have had chickenpox in the past are at a higher risk of developing shingles, and the Zostavax vaccine may be recommended. While Zostavax is supposed to help prevent shingles, it has been allegedly causing serious complications in patients.

Overview of Shingles Vaccine Injury Allegations

According to the Zostavax lawsuit, Paul had the shingles vaccine implemented on Nov. 29, 2012 after being recommended by his physician. The Zostavax shot was given for typical treatment purposes, and Paul says he had no reason he was at risk for serious drug side effects.

He reportedly did not develop a shingles vaccine injury for years after the fact. According to the Zostavax lawsuit, Paul had suffered a shingles outbreak throughout his body in February 2017, which consisted of various chronic painful rashes and lesions.

Paul alleges his shingles vaccine injury caused him to experience physical limitations and emotional distress, and that he is still contending with the long lasting effects of the drug.

The patient information sheet that Paul reviewed warned against potential side effects like headache, local reaction to the vaccine, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea, and development of shingles after receiving the vaccine.

However, the FDA has received reports of blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and death prompting the agency to add black box warnings to the label.

In 2016, the Zostavax warning label was updated again to include potential vision damage from eye inflammation. Other shingles vaccine injuries reported to the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) include gastrointestinal disorders, rashes, arthralgia, myalgia, anaphylactic reactions, and necrotizing retinitis.

Even though these are serious drug complications, the couple claims Merck has allegedly failed to warn the general public about the severity of these vaccine reactions.

At all times relevant, Paul and Nancy says they relied on the patient information and other marketing materials from Merck. Paul states he would not have agreed to take the Zostavax shot if he had known he could suffer a serious latent shingles vaccine injury.

This Zostavax Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-13894-PGS-TJB, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.