A new shingles vaccine side effects lawsuit has been filed against Merck, by two plaintiffs alleging that the shingles vaccine caused unexpected and severe side effects.

While side effects are present in any vaccine, the plaintiffs, Armando and Rose V., state that they were never told about the possibility of developing Bell’s palsy, an impairment of the facial nerve, from a vaccine that is designed to prevent shingles.

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Zostavax vaccine manufactured by Merck to be marketed and sold in the United States. It was meant to prevent herpes zoster (shingles) in risk-laden patients, like the elderly.

A shingles prevention study that was completed and supported by Merck was the primary basis for the FDA approval.

Shingles Lawsuit Complaint

Armando, the plaintiff in the shingles vaccine side effects lawsuit, is a resident of Virginia who received the Zostavax vaccine on Feb. 15th, 2018.  He says that the vaccine was administered for the intended purpose of preventing shingles. According to his lawsuit, however, nearly three days after receiving the Zostavax vaccine, the plaintiff says he began to experience a number of different troubling side effects.

Armando complained of suffering a droopy right eye, left sided facial numbness and right sided weakness. These Zostavax side effects are connected to Bell’s palsy, he says.

The lawsuit alleges that in addition to receiving an official diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, Armando suffered from right sided hearing issues shortly after being diagnosed and continues to suffer facial paralysis issues due to this diagnosis.

The shingles vaccine side effects lawsuit says that directly as a result of the defective Zostavax vaccine that the plaintiff’s symptoms have caused physical limitations that were not present in his life prior to receiving the product. Both plaintiffs in the shingles vaccine side effects lawsuits say that they have additionally suffered emotional and mental distress due to the severity of Bell’s palsy and its associated limitations.

The shingles vaccine side effects lawsuit says that the manufacturers knew or should have known about the dangers of their vaccine, but that they failed to warn the medical community or consumers about the possibilities of different types of side effects, such as Bell’s palsy, that could develop.

A growing number of plaintiffs have taken legal action and filed lawsuits against Merck after they have developed side effects, including a diagnosis of shingles itself. These patients say that the manufacturers rushed their product to market and failed to allow for appropriate testing and notification of side effects like Bell’s palsy.

Those patients who have already been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy or have conditions that could indicate this medical condition should consult with their physician immediately. The risk of long-term impacts from Bell’s Palsy is high, so anyone with the early signs of these symptoms should be evaluated as soon as possible.

Armando’s Shingles Vaccine Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-05548-HB, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.