Merck & Co. is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) consisting of similar claims alleging patients developed serious side effects from the company’s Zostavax shingles vaccine.

One of the most recent Zostavax shingles lawsuits was filed by a woman from Tennessee, who alleges Merck failed to disclose the full scope of potential vaccine reactions.

Like numerous other patients, plaintiff Tammy H. says she had been instructed to receive the Zostavax shingles vaccine after she reached over the age of 50. The vaccine is considered a typical routine procedure for older patients to help prevent them from getting shingles.

Shingles

Shingles is an uncomfortable condition that manifests as painful rashes in various parts of the patient’s body, and is thought to be caused by a dormant chickenpox virus strain. The Zostavax vaccine consists of a weakened strain of the chickenpox virus, which helps the immune system prevent the onset of shingles.

It is important to note that patients who have had chickenpox at some point their life may be more likely develop shingles, because the chickenpox virus remains dormant in the nervous system for years and can be reactivated due to various factors including aging and immune modulation responses caused by vaccine.

With this in mind, Tammy says she had the Zostavax shingles vaccine injected on Nov. 8, 2016. She says she had no reason to believe she was at risk for any serious adverse reactions, but Tammy reportedly developed serious complications not long after receiving the shot.

According to her Zostavax shingles lawsuit, Tammy developed rashes on her upper left shoulder and between her thighs for months, as well as persistent chest congestion and wheezing. Tammy was eventually diagnosed with shingles, along with pneumonia and COPD exacerbation, the lawsuit claims.

According to the Zostavax shingles lawsuit, Tammy has been forced to contend with these long lasting side effects and has experienced a diminished quality of life as a result.

Tammy opted to file legal action against Merck & Co. after discovering other patients developed serious reactions after receiving the Zostavax shingles vaccine, and that the pharmaceutical company had allegedly failed to disclose all potential side effects that could occur from the shot.

Zostavax Shingles Vaccine Complications

The Zostavax shingles vaccine was approved by the FDA in May 2006 as a routine preventative measure against shingles. However, it’s been alleged the vaccine contains a virus strain too potent for some patients and has allegedly been causing reactions up to six months after receiving the injection.

According to the patient information sheet provided by Merck, typical vaccine reactions patients can develop include headaches, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea, and chickenpox or shingles occurrence.

However, the FDA has received much more serious injury reports including blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and even death. These complications spurred the FDA into adding two black box warnings, with the shingles vaccine warning label most recently updated to include Zostavax-related vision damage from eye inflammation in 2016. Even though these complications can be devastating to patients, Tammy says Merck allegedly failed to disclose this information to the medical community and patient population.

Tammy’s claim is joining MDL No. 2848, where it will be streamlined through the litigation process and avoid issues like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Tammy’s  Zostavax Shingles Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-05546-HB, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.