The use of the popular Zostavax shingles vaccine may be associated with negative outcomes as shared by numerous patients who had a shingles vaccine reaction. Ultimately, adverse side effects have been reported by numerous people who have received this vaccine.

This vaccine is frequently used for older adults who may be at risk for developing shingles. Someone who gets a vaccine to help prevent a problem might know to anticipate some minor side effects, but a severe shingles vaccine reaction might be unexpected and lead to injuries or medical problems.

More than 36 million Americans have received an injection of Zostavax since it became FDA approved in 2006. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended in 2017 that due to the serious shingles vaccine reactions reported by consumers, adults may want to ask for Shingrix rather than Zostavax. Shingrix was approved only a few days prior to the CDC making that recommendation.

Although the manufacturer of the vaccine, Merck, has earned more than $685 million each year from Zostavax, their sales decreased significantly following the recommendation from the Center for Disease Control. Thousands more lawsuits associated with a negative shingles vaccine reaction are anticipated to be filed in the coming years.

Zostavax was intended to help people who may be at risk of developing shingles, but some who have experienced a bad reaction to the shingles vaccine say they were never told about the possibility of major issues and that the company should be held accountable for failing to either test for or warn about the risks.

A new lawsuit alleges that one shingles vaccine reaction, about which the plaintiff was allegedly never warned, is the permanent loss of eyesight. Merck has requested that the growing number of cases filed against it due to the shingles vaccine reaction complaints, be consolidated together.

Consolidating Zostavax lawsuits makes it easier for the courts to manage similar claims and reduce duplicated discovery. Furthermore, when cases are consolidated, the early bellwether cases may give some indication of how the rest may unfold in court.

A number of different patients have come forward and reported problems to their doctors after having a shingles vaccine reaction, allegedly due to Zostavax. A number of different injuries have been associated with these various types of shingles vaccine reactions, including viral injuries such as permanent and total hearing loss, the loss of eyesight, and the development of the very virus that it was designed to stop: shingles.

If you or someone you know has already developed an adverse shingles vaccine reaction, your first step should be to contact your doctor to determine next steps. Your doctor may be able to advise you further about what to do protect yourself during this difficult time. If you believe that you may have grounds to participate in legal action, you should consult with an attorney to determine your eligibility to pursue recourse against the company that developed the vaccine.