Matthew Morris v. HHS - Tdap, fibromyalgia/myalgia/myositis (2016)

Matthew Morris received a Tdap vaccine on August 29, 2009. He alleged that within a week, he began experiencing flu-like symptoms, aches, pains, and fever, which intensified over the following months, leading to numbness and shooting pains.

Due to financial hardship and lack of insurance, he delayed seeking medical attention for over nine months. His first medical visit in May 2010 revealed no objective abnormalities, and laboratory tests were largely normal, though he had a slightly elevated ANA titer.

Subsequent evaluations by specialists diagnosed him with musculoskeletal pain of unknown etiology, characterized as fibromyalgia/myalgia/myositis. Mr.

Morris believed the Tdap vaccine caused his symptoms. His expert, Dr.

Engstrand, proposed a theory linking the vaccine's aluminum adjuvant to an autoimmune reaction, potentially causing macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF). Respondent's expert, Dr.

Oddis, refuted this, stating there was no evidence of MMF or an autoimmune reaction, and that the petitioner's symptoms and lack of objective findings did not support his claim. The Special Master denied entitlement, finding that Mr.

Morris failed to establish a plausible medical theory, a logical sequence of cause and effect, or a medically acceptable temporal relationship. The court found no evidence of MMF, that the petitioner's causation theory was not applicable to his actual symptoms, and that the temporal relationship was not medically established.

The request for a muscle biopsy was denied as dilatory. The case was dismissed.