Shingles Vaccine Lawsuit
On May 25th, 2006, the FDA approved Zostavax, a drug made by Merck, as a vaccine prescribed for people 50 and older to prevent Shingles. Studies have now shown that Zostavax can actually cause someone vaccinated with the drug to get shingles. The FDA has told Merck to add warnings to the Zostavax vaccine drug the side effects can include shingles.
Zostavax Injuries & Side Effects
Zostavax injuries can involve long-term or permanent neurological injury.
• Stroke
• Lupus
• Meningitis
• Systematic Pain Syndrome
• Encephalomyelitis
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Signs & Symptoms of Shingles
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is characterized by a painful skin rash. The initial disease starts as a burning or tingling pain that starts on one side of the body. This is followed after a few days with a rash that may even blister and take up to 30 days to go away. Shingles is a disease found in the elderly; however younger people have been diagnosed with the disease. Studies have shown that one out of every 5 people diagnosed with the shingles disease have nerve pain that can last for years because of this debilitating disease.
Further look at Zostavax
Zostavax is a vaccine drug created by Merck prescribed to people 50 and older to prevent the Shingles disease. Merck designed the drug to contain a “live form of the virus” in a weakened state to keep the virus dormant by stimulating the immune system. Some studies have suggested the “live form” of the virus in the Zostavax drug is too potent for some groups of people and is causing the outbreak of the shingles disease.
Zostavax patients sue Merck, claiming shingles shot caused injuries and death
Merck & Co. could have a growing Zostavax problem on its hands. After several plaintiffs sued claiming the drug maker’s shingles vaccine caused serious injury and death, attorneys say more cases are on the way.
Plaintiffs have sued in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania alleging that Merck’s Zostavax—used to prevent shingles, the painful complication of varicella infection—caused serious side effects, including death.
Several Zostavax lawsuit plaintiffs who have filed in Pennsylvania are residents of other states. However, Merck & Co. manufactures the vaccine in West Point, Pennsylvania. Filings have been on the increase since the FDA asked the company to add more side effect information to the Zostavax label regarding eye injuries and infections.
The pending Zostavax cases involve many injuries, ranging from rashes and seizures to severe outbreaks of chickenpox. One lawsuit even alleges that a patient died from liver failure allegedly caused by the shingles vaccine.
On August 2, 2018 the JPML ordered that the Zostavax MDL be assigned to Judge Bartle for further proceedings. Mark Sadaka of Sadaka Associates, LLC has been litigating Zostavax injuries since 2011.
On July 26, 2018, Mr. Sadaka argued before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation for the thousands of people injured by Zostavax, a vaccine given to adults to prevent shingles. Because there are so many people injured, Merck asked for all the cases to be heard in front of one court for pre-trial proceedings.
Sadaka Associates argued that the case should be consolidated in Philadelphia before Judge Bartle of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sadaka’s cases pending before Judge Bartle are the leading cases in the Zostavax litigation. Keeping the cases in Philadelphia will move them expeditiously to trial.
Mark Sadaka said “We are happy that the JPML selected Judge Bartle to handle the Zostavax MDL. My cases pending before Judge Bartle are the most advanced in the Zostavax litigation. Merck has already produced millions of pages of discovery and significant progress has been made in this litigation since I filed the first case in New Jersey in 2012. Judge Bartle has already decided two summary judgment motions and overheard multiple substantive motions over the course of the last two years. I look forward to developing all of these cases for trial and working with plaintiffs’ attorneys from all over the country to see justice done.”
