MMR Lawsuit and Side
Effect Information

Since the late 90s MMR side effects have been getting more serious, even being linked to autism, death, and aseptic meningitis. If your child has been harmed by MMR, contact either the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) or a lawyer to file a civil MMR lawsuit.

MMR Overview

The measles, mumps and rubella combo (MMR) was first licensed in the USA in 1971 and the in UK in 1972. There were numerous manufacturers, but the vaccine most often used is made by Merck.

The vaccine seemed safe until 1994 when UK Dr Andrew Wakefield suggested the vaccine may be linked to Crohn's, an inflammatory lower bowel disease. He said there was a link between MMR and a form of autism associated with bowel disease. Parents didn't want to give their children the MMR, but single doses were banned for safety reasons.

Other MMR side effects such as allergy reactions were becoming more common. Other studies worldwide didn't find a link between the MMR vaccine and Dr. Wakefield's claims but over 3,000 parents filed an MMR lawsuit with solicitors in the UK.

Further controversy arose in 2001 when Wakefield suggested early trials pointed to bowel problems, but they were missed. Scientists say Wakefield is wrong, however qualify their nay saying by adding that the increasing occurrence of autism associated with MMR needs further investigation.

In the meantime more studies were being carried out about the reported causal link between MMR side effects and autism. Parents starting asking questions about filing an MMR lawsuit.

All was relatively quiet on the USA MMR front until about 1988 when more people asserted their children were harmed by the MMR and the Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus vaccines (DPT). In response to these concerns the federal Vaccine Immunization Compensation Program (VICP) or Vaccine Court was created.

Attorneys called special masters, decide VICP cases. If compensation is awarded, it comes from a "vaccine trust fund", the result of taxes from patient's fees (75 cents per shot). The Trust Fund has over $2 billion. Despite close to 5,000 families filing complaints since 2001, there have been no awards for MMR claims. The scientific evidence has to be dead solid on the claimant's side to win an MMR lawsuit in this court.

MMR Side Effects & Other Problems

Aside from autism, other side effects of the MMR combo vaccination include runny nose, diarrhea, fever, irritability, joint aches, swelling, burning/stinging at injection site, bruising/purple spots on skin, eye infection, fainting, ear pain/infection, cough, stiff neck, vomiting, swelling/pain in testicles/scrotum, blistering/peeling skin, seizures, severe allergy reactions (anaphylaxis) due to the medium used to make the vaccine - eggs and gelatin and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder.

Other, more devastating side effects, can include aseptic meningitis, birth defects, nodular fat necrosis, atypical measles syndrome, inflammation of the wall of blood vessels, inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of the parotid glands, diabetes, enlarged nodes, high white blood cell count, swelling in the deep layers of the skin, encephalitis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (deadly skin disease caused by drugs) and death.

The MMR has three separate vaccines in one shot, and they all kick in at different times with different side effects. The measles part of the vaccine kicks in first, usually within about ten days, followed by mumps about four weeks later and within a six-week timeframe, by rubella.

Lawsuits of note against Merck have been and are for:

* Vioxx - Vioxx was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication for arthritis. Vioxx was recalled September 30, 2004 based on a new study that confirmed a higher rate of strokes and heart attacks in those taking the drug.
* Whistleblower Lawsuit/Pepcid -Dr. William St. John LaCorte alleged Merck gave hospitals substantial discounts on Pepcid to prompt them to switch patients to that drug. The doctor further alleged Merck charged the hospitals 10 cents per tablet and the government $1.65.
* ERISA lawsuit - relates to marketing Vytorin. It was marketed as being better at lowering cholesterol than Zocor alone when in fact Vytorin was a combination of Zetia and Zocor. When it turned out Vytorin wasn't any more effective than a cheaper generic, Merck's stock prices dropped and employee's who invested in the plans lost money.
* Washington Attorney General -The company was fined $650 million for overbilling the government for Vioxx and Zocor, cheating Medicaid out of millions of dollars in discounts over eight years.
* Fosamax - osteoarthritis drug linked to causing osteonecrosis of the jaw otherwise called Dead Jaw. Lawyers are asking for those hurt by Fosamax to contact them for an assessment.

MMR Lawsuits

Many of the civil lawsuits currently being worked on come from rejected VICP autism cases, or from families that opted out of the system because their case was unresolved after 240 days.

Lawsuits during the 80s and 90s were ruled inconclusive. The price of the vaccinations jumped to cover potential lawsuits and by 1993 Merck was the only drug manufacturer who would sell MMR to the US and UK.

If you suspect the MMR vaccine has harmed your child, contact a lawyer to find out what your legal rights are and how to proceed with filing a civil MMR lawsuit.




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