Merck & Co. is facing a new Zostavax lawsuit, which was filed by a Florida plaintiff alleging he suffered serious complications from herpes zoster vaccine.

The Zostavax lawsuit alleges that the herpes zoster vaccine was defective and did not prevent the onset of shingles, which has compounded the claimant’s condition.

Plaintiff Kip F. states that he was prescribed the herpes zoster vaccine by his healthcare provider to prevent shingles, but had reportedly developed the condition instead.

The herpes zoster vaccine or Zostavax vaccine is used to prevent the development of shingles in patients over the age of 50, which is a medical condition often characterized by soreness and a red rash.

With these benefits in mind, Kip was administered the herpes zoster vaccine on March 30, 2016 to help prevent shingles.

However not long after Zostavax was implemented, Kip reportedly developed tingling, numbness and burning in his hands and other parts of his body.

Kip later developed a painful rash and blisters on his upper back and shoulder, and was eventually diagnosed with shingles on April 13, 2016.

Due to complications related to shingles, Kip sustained painful injuries and has had to undergo extensive medical care and treatment.

Kip later opted to file legal action against Merck, after discovering other patients developed similar reactions to the herpes zoster vaccine and had relied on the patient information provided by the pharmaceutical company.

Overview of Herpes Zoster Vaccine Complications

The herpes zoster vaccine contains a weakened strain of chickenpox, which is implemented to help prepare the immune system.

It is currently thought that shingles is caused by a dormant chickenpox virus, which means patients who have previously had this disease are at an increased risk.

Even though the herpes zoster vaccine is supposed to help prevent the onset of shingles, numerous patients have reportedly developed serious adverse reactions.

Some of the side effects patients have reported include fever, joint pain, muscle, pain, nausea and even chickenpox or shingles recurrence.

The FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has also received reports of gastrointestinal disorders, rashes, arthralgia, myalgia, anaphylactic reactions and necrotizing retinitis.

However there have been more serious side effects reported including reports of blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and even death.

These serious complications had spurred the FDA to issue two black warnings to Zostavax’s warning label, which described these incidents.

Most recently in 2016, eye inflammation was also added to the herpes zoster vaccine warning label.

Even though these herpes zoster vaccine complications can be devastating to patients, Merck allegedly failed to warn the general public even when the FDA has reportedly been receiving injury reports since Zostavax’s release in 2006.

Kip states he would not have agreed to have the herpes zoster vaccine implemented if he knew the severity of Zostavax complications.

During all times relevant, Kip relied on the marketing materials and patient information provided by Merck and had no reason to believe that herpes zoster vaccine may not work. Kip is seeking a multitude of damages in his Zostavax lawsuit, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

The Herpes Zoster Vaccine Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-12695-JLL-JAD, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.