New Pa. Federal Lawsuit Says Zostavax Caused Man’s Vision Loss

PHILADELPHIA — In a new lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania federal court, a South Carolina man alleges Merck & Co.’s shingles vaccine Zostavax caused him to develop a virus that led to his vision loss.

In a May 1 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the plaintiff accuses Merck of failing to adequately warn that Zostavax can cause viral infections, and he alleges that a safer, more effective shingles vaccine exists.

In February 2007, Marco Tsalichis received the Zostavax vaccine for prevention of shingles. A month later, he completely lost his vision in his …