A Louisiana woman recently added to the growing number of Zostavax lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., alleging that its shingles vaccine caused her serious injuries, including the development of a serious rash.

Plaintiff Minnie C., was inoculated with Merck’s Zostavax on July 26, 2017, for the prevention of shingles (also known as herpes zoster). Several months later, Minnie started to notice lesions on her abdomen, according to her complaint. Minnie was diagnosed with shingles and prescribed valacyclovir for treatment. Her  doctor photographed and documented Minnie’s rash, according to the suit.

After her injuries, Minnie filed a Zostavax lawsuit alleging that her exposure to the vaccine caused her injuries, along with pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment and injury. She seeks compensation for medical expenses and other economic and non-economic damages.

Minnie’s lawsuit, filed on May 18, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. lists multiple counts, including breach of duty under Louisiana state law, manufacturing and design defect, inadequate warning, and non-conformity to express warranty.

Minnie is far from the first person to pursue litigation over complications associated with the Zostavax vaccine. If you or someone you love has suffered from a rash or other side effects of Zostavax, you may be able to join the growing pile of Zostavax lawsuits being filed against Merck & Co. and pursue compensation.

Basics of Zostavax

Zostavax is a common shingles vaccine manufactured by Merck & Co., and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2006. Zostavax is approved for use in patients 60 and older to immunize against shingles. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, Zostavax has been associated with certain serious complications, including the development of shingles—the very condition that Zostavax is meant to prevent.

In turn, shingles can cause other issues, such as postherpetic neuralgia, pneumonia, blindness, hearing problems, brain inflammation (encephalitis), or even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

List of Zostavax Side Effects

Zostavax vaccine side effects may include:

• Hearing loss
• Necrotizing Retinitis
• Neurological disorders
• Ramsay Hunt
• Retinal Uveitis leading to vision loss or blindness diagnosed by a doctor
• Vision loss/blindness documented by a doctor
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death where medical records show it was from shingles or another condition such as:
  • Acute myelitis
  • Bell’s Palsy
  • Encephalitis

Side effects may not appear immediately after inoculation. The risk for developing Zostovax side effects lasts about six months after being vaccinated with it.

Filing a Zostavax Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has suffered from these or other complications after inoculation with Zostavax, you may be able to add to the slew of Zostavax lawsuits already filed against Merck. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Zostavax side effects, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

If you have received the Zostavax shingles vaccine and diagnosed with one of the listed side effects sometime within six months of exposure to the vaccine, sometime in the last two years, you may be able to join this investigation.

An experienced attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

The Zostavax Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-00642, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.