What You Need To Know About Brain Injuries and the COVID-19 Vaccine
In our continuing series focusing on Brain Injury Awareness Month, we are sharing some medical guidance recently issued by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) concerning COVID-19 vaccinations of individuals with brain injuries.
As COVID-19 cases continue to persist throughout the country, the BIAA strongly suggests that individuals with brain injuries get the COVID-19 vaccine to avoid neuroinflammatory problems and to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.
BIAA National Medical Director Brent E. Masel, M.D., explains that COVID-19 looks for the body’s “weakest link” when it attacks. That’s why individuals with long-standing medical problems, like brain injuries, are susceptible to major health problems and even death from the coronavirus. Masel further notes that traumatic brain injuries trigger inflammation in the brain that puts these individuals at risk for COVID-19 complications.
As for side effects that stem from the COVID-19 vaccine, the BIAA explains that they are relatively minor symptoms related to the body’s immune system and not particularly problematic for those with brain injuries. Some recipients report a sore arm, headache, and fever, all of which will generally resolve in about a day.
On the other hand, some of the problems that TBI patients may experience from COVID-19 include severe neurobehavioral disturbance, delirium, psychosis, and possibly even death. As brain injury victims work to get their lives back on track, they simply can’t afford to jeopardize their health by contracting COVID-19. The BIAA urges all individuals with brain injuries to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
Here at Rosen Hagood, we work hard to connect our brain injury clients with the resources and support they need. We also fight for the justice they deserve when their injuries are caused by another person’s negligence. If you have questions about your right to compensation after a brain injury, give us a call.
