A growing number of patients have been alleging serious Zostavax injuries soon after getting the vaccine, ranging from localized shingles development to death.

Patients have alleged that Merck & Co. failed to adequately disclose the potential side effects the shingles vaccine carried, which has prompted the formation of growing multidistrict litigation (MDL).

One of the most recent lawsuits was filed by a couple from Kentucky who allege serious vaccine reactions occurred soon after receiving Zostavax under the instruction of their physician.

Plaintiff couple Eddy H. and Cathy H. conjointly filed this Zostavax lawsuit, which alleges the shingles vaccine has permanently impacted the quality of their lives and marriage.

According to the lawsuit, Eddy received the shingles vaccine on Oct. 26, 2016, for typical treatment purposes and had no reason to believe he was at risk for any serious reactions. However, Eddy says he suffered several serious Zostavax injuries including deteriorated visual impairment, retinal edema, and posterior vitreous detachment.

Eddy says he suffers from severely damaged eyesight, allegedly causing him and Cathy severe emotional distress as well as disruptive physical impairments. Eddy and Cathy opted to file legal action against Merck & Co., after discovering other patients suffered serious Zostavax injuries.

Overview of Zostavax Complications

The Zostavax vaccine was developed as an inoculation measure again shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus.

This is the same virus that causes chickenpox, with health officials warning that patients who developed this disease as children are likely to develop shingles. The virus remains dormant for a number of years and can be reactivated by a variety of factoring including age and stress.

The Zostavax vaccine was approved the FDA in 2006 and is typically recommended to patients at least 50 years and older, with older patients more vulnerable to shingles development. according to the CDC, since its release, the Zostavax vaccine has reportedly reduced the amount of shingles cases by 51 percent and PHN by 67 percent.

Even with the recent release of Shingrix, the only other shingles vaccination available in the United States, Zostavax remains a popular choice. In contrast to Shingrix, Zostavax is a live vaccine that is given in a single injection. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness, swelling, tenderness, and itching at the injection site, as well as headaches.

However, there have been much more serious complications reported to the FDA. The agency has received injury reports indicating that Zostavax had caused blindness, paralysis, brain damage, and even death.

These complications prompted the FDA to issue two black box warning updates to the Zostavax warning label, with the agency also explaining the list of potential side effects to include vision damage caused by eye inflammation in 2016.

Even though these vaccine reactions can be devastating to patients, Merck & Co. allegedly failed to warn the public. At all times relevant, Eddy, Cathy, and their physicians relied on the marketing materials and product information provided by Merck.

Eddy and Cathy’s Zostavax lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2848 and is seeking damages for negligence and failure to warn.

This Zostavax Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00830-HB, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.