Janice D. Adams v. HHS - Tdap, Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (2017)

Janice D. Adams filed a petition seeking compensation for a right shoulder and right arm injury allegedly caused by the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on August 10, 2011.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, conceded that Ms. Adams's claim was compensable, agreeing that her shoulder injury was caused-in-fact by the Tdap vaccine and met the statutory requirements.

In a ruling on entitlement dated February 23, 2015, the Special Master found that Ms. Adams was entitled to compensation.

Subsequently, on January 4, 2017, a decision awarding damages was issued based on a proffer agreed upon by both parties. The court awarded Ms.

Adams a total of $1,469,457.34, which included compensation for life care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses. A portion of the award was to be paid as a lump sum, and the remainder was to be used to purchase an annuity contract for future life care expenses.