Autoimmune Disease After Vaccination: Can You File a Vaccine Injury Claim for an Autoimmune Condition?

Most autoimmune conditions aren’t on the Vaccine Injury Table, but Guillain-Barré, ITP, and others may still qualify for compensation.

Autoimmune Claims Are Possible, But Complex

Vaccine injury claims involving autoimmune conditions are almost always treated as off-table claims under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). That means causation must be proven, and there’s no automatic presumption of vaccine-related harm.

Still, filing a vaccine injury claim for an autoimmune disease is possible if:

• It's demonstrated by your lawyer that symptoms began within a plausible timeframe after vaccine administration
• The condition lasted more than six months after vaccination, required both inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or resulted in death
• Your vaccine injury attorney submits full medical records and secures a statement from a qualified medical expert
• The vaccine related injury occurred from a covered vaccine listed under the VICP

Many of these claims are reviewed in vaccine court, a specialized tribunal within the Court of Federal Claims, where special masters handle these cases, not a jury or traditional judge.

My Vaccine Lawyer has represented clients in hundreds of off-table claims, including autoimmune-related injuries. Contact us for a free consultation if symptoms began after vaccination and you’re unsure if you qualify for compensation.

Which Autoimmune Conditions Have Been Part of Vaccine Injury Claims?

While the VICP does not list most autoimmune disorders on the official Vaccine Injury Table by the HRSA, several conditions have been included in successful off-table claims, including:

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
  Linked to the flu vaccine and, in off-Table claims, to tetanus-containing vaccines. The CDC estimates a 1–3 in 1,000,000 risk following influenza vaccination.
• Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
  Rarely associated with MMR and varicella vaccines. May qualify if platelet counts drop significantly and symptoms persist.
• Transverse Myelitis
  A spinal cord condition reported in rare claims after MMR and hepatitis B vaccines.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus
  Appeared in claims involving the hepatitis B and HPV vaccines, especially where symptoms began within weeks of vaccination.
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Autoimmune Hepatitis
  Documented in petitions, though medical causation requires supporting expert opinion.
• Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
  Rare but filed in VICP petitions related to hepatitis B and rotavirus vaccines.

Filing for these injuries does not require a listed condition, but it does demand proof, a medical timeline, and expert evidence to support the autoimmune link.

If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these after a recent vaccination, our attorneys at My Vaccine Lawyer will evaluate your case at no cost.

Meeting the Legal Standard for an Autoimmune Vaccine Injury Claim

Autoimmune injury claims are not presumed valid under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. These cases are classified as off-table claims and must meet strict evidentiary requirements to be considered for compensation in vaccine court. This is why you need a vaccine injury lawyer.

Required Documentation and Criteria

Timeline of Events
A documented sequence of events is mandatory. This includes:

• Date of vaccine administration
• Date of first symptom onset
• Progression of symptoms over time, with corresponding medical documentation

Medical Records
Records must show:

• A confirmed autoimmune diagnosis by a licensed physician
• Persistence of the condition for more than six months after vaccination, or evidence of both inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention
• Diagnostic support such as imaging, blood work, or neurological testing

Causation Support
Because these injuries are not on the Vaccine Injury Table, causation must be established through:

• A signed medical opinion linking the autoimmune condition to the vaccine
• A medically supported rationale for ruling out alternative causes such as viral infections, genetic predispositions, or existing autoimmune disorders
• A direct, logical connection between vaccine administration and symptom development

Petition Requirements
The Court of Federal Claims requires:

• A complete petition
• All relevant medical records
• Submission within the three-year statute of limitations from the date of first symptom

Because these deadlines can be complicated and are strictly enforced, individuals who believe they may have a claim should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Read more about the claims process.

How My Vaccine Lawyer Builds Winning Autoimmune Injury Cases

Not all law firms understand the complexity of vaccine injury claims, especially when autoimmune conditions are involved. These cases demand more than just filing paperwork. They require strategy, legal precision, and an ability to present dense medical evidence clearly to the Court of Federal Claims.

Here’s how our team strengthens autoimmune-related claims:

We Focus on Timeline Clarity

We work with clients to reconstruct exact timelines, from vaccination to symptom onset, and match that against expected post-vaccine windows accepted in previous vaccine court cases. No guesswork.

We Get the Right Medical Opinions

Not just any doctor will do. We secure written opinions from medical experts experienced in autoimmune disorders and vaccine-related injuries, physicians who understand how to rule out alternative explanations and anchor the claim in sound clinical reasoning.

We Identify Gaps Early

Many claims fail because of missing records or vague causation logic. Our team identifies those problems before filing, not after a claim is rejected.

We Handle Everything

From gathering medical records to structuring the claim and presenting it in vaccine court, we handle the process from start to finish.

If you've developed a confirmed autoimmune condition after receiving a covered vaccine, speak to us now. Our vaccine injury attorneys will assess whether your symptoms, diagnosis, and timeline qualify for a claim under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Request a Free Case Evaluation

Frequently Asked Legal Questions About Autoimmune Disease After Vaccination

What’s the difference between autoimmune reactions and adverse reactions?

In legal terms, autoimmune reactions involve the immune system attacking healthy tissue, often with long-term consequences. General adverse reactions can include short-term effects like fever or soreness. The VICP only compensates injuries that meet its severity requirement: effects lasting more than six months after vaccination, inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or death.

Does the VICP consider autoimmune responses differently than other injuries?

Yes. Unlike Table injuries (where causation is presumed), autoimmune responses must meet a higher evidentiary threshold. That includes expert medical opinions, full documentation, and exclusion of other risk factors such as genetic predisposition or recent viral infections. There must be a medically supported causal relationship between the vaccine and the autoimmune condition.

What if my condition isn’t listed in the Vaccine Injury Table?

You can still file an off-table claim. Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, CIDP, or autoimmune hepatitis are not on the Table, but have been included in successful claims. The key is proving timing, diagnosis, and connection to a covered vaccine through expert medical evidence. Our attorneys are experienced in building claims for rare cases and rare events.

How long do I have to file a vaccine injury claim?

You have three years from the first symptom of the autoimmune condition, not from diagnosis. For vaccine-related death, the time limit is two years from death, and no more than four years from symptom onset. Because these deadlines can be complicated and are strictly enforced, individuals who believe they may have a claim should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Can autoimmune injury claims receive compensation even if symptoms were delayed?

Yes, but only if the immune response began within a timeframe consistent with past reported cases. A delay of several weeks may still qualify, but claims must include medical proof of onset timing and symptom progression. Our legal team works to establish this using contemporaneous medical records and sworn physician statements.

What kind of compensation can I receive for autoimmune injuries?

Approved claims may be awarded monetary compensation for:

• Pain and suffering (up to $250,000)
• Death benefits, where applicable
• Unreimbursed medical expenses
• Future care costs
• Lost income

The VICP pays our attorney's fees directly, separate from your award, and by law we can't charge you any other fee.

How does My Vaccine Lawyer help with autoimmune vaccine injury claims?

We handle everything, from case evaluation to medical evidence to claim filing. We work exclusively on vaccine injury law and have experience with complex autoimmune disorders. Our firm knows how to navigate claims involving adverse effects, immune complexes, and injuries affecting the central nervous system.

Do I need a diagnosis before I contact My Vaccine Lawyer?

If you’ve experienced persistent symptoms after vaccination and suspect an autoimmune disease after vaccination, it’s worth contacting us. Even if you don’t yet have a confirmed diagnosis, we can advise whether your case meets the legal standards, and guide you on next steps to secure proper medical evaluation and documentation.

Is there a higher risk of denial for autoimmune claims?

Autoimmune claims face more scrutiny because of their off-table status. However, that’s exactly why you need experienced legal support. The potential risks of filing without proper documentation are high, but with the right legal team and evidence, your claim can succeed. We’ve handled many significant cases and rare outcomes.