Vaccine being drawn out of syringe

Syncope or Fainting After Vaccination

Fainting or Vasovagal Syncope After a Vaccine

Vasovagal Syncope, or fainting, is a rare but possible vaccine side-effect.  Fainting is reported after nearly every type of vaccine. About 80% of post-vaccine fainting happens 15 minutes after the injections.  Patients may feel dizzy or light-headed though generally regain consciousness within a few minutes.

If you fainted and suffered serious injuries after getting a vaccination, you may be eligible for compensation from the Federal Vaccine Court. If we accept your case, our law firm represents you at no cost.

IMPORTANT: The information below does NOT apply to injuries from COVID-19 vaccinations.

Severe Injuries After Fainting from a Vaccine

Sometimes fainting after a vaccination leads to falls that can cause serious injuries.  In very rare cases, fainting-related injuries are even fatal. The CDC conducted a study on post-vaccination fainting and found that “7% of the fainting reports were coded as serious; 12% of these involved head injuries.” Another study of post-vaccination fainting published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine finds that “hospitalization was reported in 9.6% of cases” (Braun et al).

Types of Severe Fainting Injuries:

  • Head Injury
  • Skull Fractures
  • Brain Hemorrhage
  • Tooth Loss or Dental Damage
  • Jaw Fracture
  • Other Severe Injuries Lasting More than 6 Months

Recently, we represented an eleven-year-old girl who suffered dental fractures from a fainting episode after the flu shot. She stood up following the shot and fainted, falling and hitting her face and teeth on the floor. She went through hours of grueling dental reconstructive surgery to fix the damage. Her mctlaw vaccine injury lawyers won a $39,000 compensation settlement from the VICP to cover future and past expenses related to her injury, as well as an amount for pain, suffering and emotional distress.

Who is Most Likely to Faint After Getting a Vaccine?

Although anyone is susceptible to fainting after a vaccine, studies have found that some patients are more likely than others to experience post-vaccine fainting. These include:

  • Adolescents: Adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 are by far the most likely to faint after getting a vaccine, according to VAERS reports.  One study found that 62% of post-vaccine fainting occurred among adolescents.
  • Females: Some studies have found that females are more likely to faint than men after getting immunizations.  One report analyzed 697 cases of post-vaccine fainting and found that 57.5% of fainting episodes occurred among females (Braun et al).

Three vaccines typically given to teenagers are the most commonly reported to cause fainting:  HPV, MCV4, and TDaP.

  • The HPV Vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, a common viral infection that causes many kinds of cancer.  It is typically administered to children between 11 and 12 years old.
  • The MCV4 vaccine, protects against meningococcal disease, a serious illness that causes infections in the brain and spinal cord.  It is also typically given to children between 11 and 12 years old.
  • The TDaP vaccine, is a combination shot that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).  It is typically administered to children between 11 and 12 years of age as well.VA

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Information We Need to File a Vaccine Injury Claim

Our law firm needs the following information to consider representing you in a vaccine injury claim for vasovagal syncope (fainting) after a vaccine:

  • Immunization record showing the type and date of vaccination
  • Medical records indicating that you fainted within 5 hours of getting the vaccination.
  • Medical records showing the injuries you sustained from falling/fainting.

Having Trouble Deciding Who Will Represent You in Your Vaccine Case?

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Our Experience:

MCTLaw managing partner Altom Maglio speaking to attorney Diana Stadelnikas

Vaccines Covered by the NVICP

  • Tetanus Toxoid-Containing Vaccines – DTaP, Tdap, DTP-Hib, DT, Td, TT
  • Pertussis Antigen-Containing Vaccines – DTaP, Tdap, DTP, P, DTP-Hib
  • Measles, Mumps & Rubella Virus-Containing Vaccines in any Combination – MMR, MR, M, R
  • Rubella Virus-Containing Vaccines – MMR, MR, R
  • Measles Virus-Containing Vaccines – MMR, MR, M
  • Polio Live Virus Vaccines – OPV
  • Hepatitis B Antigen-Containing Vaccines
  • Hemophilus Influenzaie – Type B Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccines
  • Varicella Vaccine – Chickenpox Vaccine
  • Rotavirus Vaccine
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines
  • Hepatitis A Vaccines
  • Trivalent Influenza Vaccines
  • Meningococcal Vaccines – Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine, Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines –
  • Polio Inactivated Virus – IPV

Vaccines NOT Covered by the NVICP

  • COVID-19
  • Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV,PPV)
  • Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine
  • Rabies
  • Anthrax
  • Pneumovax 23
  • Smallpox
  • Yellow Fever
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Typhoid Fever

If you got one of the vaccines listed as not covered, that means our attorneys are NOT able to represent you in the Vaccine Compensation Program.  Only specific childhood vaccines are eligible for the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

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Content Reviewed by Jessica Olins – Vaccine Injury Lawyer

Headshot of MCTLaw attorney Jessica Olins

Jessica A. Olins’ practice at mctlaw, focuses on representing clients in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Ms. Olins graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Redlands University and graduated from American University Washington College of Law. While at Redlands University, Ms. Olins excelled in leading and training her colleagues through new developments in spatial mapping, involving geographic information system software and geodatabase management applications. Her law practice also involves engaging in subpoena enforcement in federal district courts nationwide. Ms. Olins is a member of the Vaccine Injury Practitioners Bar Committee, assisting in the preparation and organization of the VIP Bar Conferences. Ms. Olins is a member of the American Association for Justice and its New Lawyers Division. Additionally, Ms. Olins is a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

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