Merck & Co. is facing a new Zostavax lawsuit filed by a couple from Alabama who are alleging serious adverse vaccine reactions, which the pharmaceutical company reportedly failed to warn the claimant against.

This Zostavax lawsuit is joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), which consists of similar claims alleging Merck failed to warn them against the full severity of the potential side effects associated with their shingles vaccine.

Plaintiff couple Terrance and Brenda O. conjointly filed this Zostavax lawsuit, stating the side effects of the shingles has permanently impacted their marriage and their quality of life. Like numerous other patients in the United States, Terrance says he was prescribed the Zostavax injection to prevent shingles soon after he turned 60.

Zostavax Vaccine

The Zostavax vaccine contains a weakened strain of chickenpox, which is designed to help prepare the immune system to combat the development of shingles. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is a skin condition in which red patches of irritation appear on different parts of the body.

It is thought that shingles is caused by a dormant chickenpox strain, which means shingles is much more likely in patients who have had chickenpox in the past. However, it has been alleged the Zostavax vaccine has caused patients to suffer serious adverse reactions that were not mentioned on the warning label or patient pamphlet.

This was reportedly the case with Terrance, who allegedly developed permanent long term complications soon after receiving the vaccine.

According to his Zostavax lawsuit, Terrance received the vaccine on Nov. 27, 2017. He says he soon developed several serious complications including: dyspnea, nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, angina and arrhythmia. The severity of the heart arrhythmia caused Terrance to be hospitalized, he claims; he was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction soon after.

Terrance has been contending with his cardiac condition ever since, and opted to file this Zostavax lawsuit after discovering Merck had received other Zostavax injury reports indicating similar serious vaccine reactions, as well as reports of eye issues, and many complaints of corporate negligence.

Overview of Zostavax Vaccine Complications

The Zostavax vaccine was approved by the FDA in May 2006, and has become one of the most widely used prevention measures against shingles. However, it has been alleged that some Zostavax injections contain virus strains too potent for patients and have caused serious reactions in patients up to six months after receiving the injection.

According to the patient information sheet provided by Merck, patients may develop headaches, local reaction to the injection, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea, and even chickenpox or shingles occurrence after injection. However, the FDA has received more serious injury reports describing instances of:

• Blindness
• Paralysis
• Brain Damage
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Rashes
• Arthralgia
• Myalgia
• Anaphylactic Reactions
• Necrotizing Retinitis
• Eye Inflammation and Vision Damage

These vaccine reactions can be devastating to patients, but Merck allegedly failed to disclose these potential complications to the public. At all times relevant, Terrance and Brenda had relied on the marketing materials and product information provided by Merck.

Terrance and Brenda’s Zostavax lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2848, where it joins other Zostavax claims and will be streamlined through the litigation process. Their Zostavax Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-05427-HB, in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania.