Malissa Ajeti v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) (2016)

Malissa Ajeti filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on May 31, 2016, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccination received on October 22, 2012. She stated that she received the vaccination in the United States, had suffered the effects of her injury for more than six months, and had not received compensation for her vaccine-related injury.

Respondent denied that the influenza vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged GBS or any other injury. Nevertheless, on May 27, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation.

The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $541,705.24, which included compensation for first-year life care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses.

An additional amount was awarded to purchase an annuity contract.