Barbara Goforth v. HHS - Influenza, sensory variant Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2021)

Barbara Goforth filed a petition alleging that her 2011 influenza vaccination caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and that her 2014 influenza vaccination significantly aggravated this condition. Initially, her claim focused on the 2011 vaccination, but due to an untimely onset date, the operative claim became one of significant aggravation by the 2014 vaccination.

The case proceeded as an off-Table claim, meaning Ms. Goforth had to prove causation-in-fact.

The court reviewed extensive medical records and expert testimony. The petitioner's experts, Dr.

Engstrand and Dr. Khoshnoodi, opined that she likely had sensory variant GBS, potentially triggered or aggravated by the flu vaccines.

However, the respondent's expert, Dr. Chaudhry, argued that Ms.

Goforth's symptoms predated the vaccinations, her condition did not meet the diagnostic criteria for GBS, and the progression was inconsistent with a vaccine-related injury. The Special Master found that Ms.

Goforth failed to prove she ever had sensory variant GBS, that her condition was caused by the 2011 vaccination, or that it was significantly aggravated by the 2014 vaccination. The court noted that many of her reported symptoms predated the vaccinations by years, and her medical records did not consistently support a GBS diagnosis or a clear temporal link to the vaccines.

Consequently, the petition was dismissed.