Lawsuit Alleges Widely-Used Shingles Vaccine Caused Permanent Loss of Eyesight

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May 01, 2018, 01:23 ET

HOUSTON, May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Zostavax shingles vaccine lawsuit was filed today since the vaccine's maker, Merck, requested that the exponentially growing number of cases being filed against it be consolidated into one Court. The lawsuits filed across the nation have alleged that Merck's blockbuster shingles vaccine causes viral injuries such as loss of eyesight, complete and permanent hearing loss, and the very virus it was designed to prevent, shingles.

The lawsuit, brought by a South Carolina resident, alleges that two months after he received the Zostavax vaccine, the plaintiff began experiencing loss of vision in his left eye. He was diagnosed with retinal necrosis, or tissue decay in his retina, likely due to the VZV virus.

The number of lawsuits regarding Zostavax has risen quickly - forcing Merck to request that the cases be consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation in front of one District Judge. Thousands more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming months.

"The Multi-District Litigation is inevitable," said Adam T. Funk, Partner at the Potts Law Firm in the firm's Houston office. Funk added, "Our firm represents a growing number of clients who have been severely damaged due to this vaccine and their lawsuits are being filed rapidly. Zostavax ruined a great many Americans' lives when it did exactly the opposite of what it was intended to do and infected thousands with the shingles virus."

Over 36 Million Americans were injected with Zostavax since it was approved by the FDA in 2006. Despite earning Merck as much as $685 Million a year, the vaccine's sales quickly dropped after the U.S. Center of Disease Control recommended in 2017 that adults ask for Shingrix instead of Zostavax. Shingrix was manufactured by GlaxoSmith Kline and approved by the FDA only a few days before the CDC made its recommendation.

The lawsuit filed is Tsalichis, et al. v. Merck, Inc., 2018-cv-01806; Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania. More information can be found here.

About Potts Law Firm

Potts Law Firm pursues a variety of complex litigation and mass tort matters, from pharmaceutical cases to eminent domain claims. The firm's team of highly competent attorneys have experience in many different areas complex litigation. Believing that every detail of a case matters, firm attorneys work tirelessly to pursue just compensation, regardless of the obstacles faced. For more information, visit www.potts-law.com.

SOURCE Potts Law Firm