Merck & Co. is facing a new Zostavax lawsuit from a group of patients who allege they suffered painful shingles immunization side effects, soon after getting the vaccine.

The Zostavax lawsuit was jointly filed by eight patients, each alleging similar shingles immunization side effects that will most likely need long term medical care.

Each of the claimants is from Florida. They all allege that they developed shingles immunization side effects from the adverse reactions of the Zostavax shot:

• Plaintiff Leah M. says she recieved the Zostavax vaccine in 2008, but reportedly developed shingles soon after and was diagnosed with shingles in 2014.
• Plaintiff Carol C. alleges she received the Zostavax vaccine in 2012, but was diagnosed with shingles on Aug. 15, 2016.
• Plaintiff Sandra Z. says she received the Zostavax vaccine in 2013 but also developed shingles that was diagnosed on Oct. 17, 2016.
• Plaintiff Mildred H. says she received the Zostavax vaccine in 2013, but was diagnosed with the condition at a later time in 2013.
• Plaintiff Donna C. says she received the Zostavax vaccine in 2007, but was diagnosed with the condition in 2013.
• Plaintiff Robert M. says he received the Zostavax vaccine on Dec. 29, 2014, but was diagnosed with shingles on Sept. 11, 2017.
• Plaintiff Louis P. says she received the Zostavax vaccine on Dec. 12, 2012, but was diagnosed with the condition in December 2015.

Each of the claimants says they will receive continuous medical care for these shingles immunization side effects. They contend that they opted to file legal action after discovering that Merck either knew or should have known about these potential complications.

Overview of Shingles Immunization Side Effects

The FDA recently warned against serious shingles immunization side effects, adding two black box warnings to include potential vision damage caused by eye information. Other serious shingles immunization side effects reported to the FDA included blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and death.

Furthermore, the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has received reports of Zostavax gastrointestinal problems, rashes, arthralgia, myalgia, anaphylactic reactions, and necrotizing retinitis.

While more common shingles immunization side effects are less severe, like headaches and muscle pain, patients have also reported shingles developing soon after the vaccine was implemented. The Zostavax vaccine is regularly prescribed to patients over the age of 50 to prevent the onset of shingles.

The vaccine contains a weakened chickenpox virus and helps the immune system counteract the development of shingles, which is thought to be caused by a dormant chickenpox strain. Even though these shingles immunization side effects can seriously compound the patient’s condition, plaintiffs claim Merck allegedly failed to warn the general public.

Each of the claimants alleges that they had relied on the Zostavax patient booklet and other product information provided by Merck. These materials allegedly failed to mention that potential shingles immunization side effects could include shingles development.

The Zostavax lawsuit is seeking a multitude of damages based on counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Zostavax Lawsuit is Leah M., Carol C., Sandra Z., Mildred H., Donna C., Robert M., and Lois P. V. Merck & Co., Case No. 0:18-Cv-61981-Uu, in the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit for Bro Ward County, Florida Civil Circuit Division.