Betsy Redfern v. HHS - Hepatitis A, left shoulder pain; osteoarthritis (2017)

Betsy Redfern, who was 71 years old, filed a petition on February 15, 2017, alleging that immediately after receiving her first Twinrix (hepatitis A and B) vaccination on June 30, 2014, she developed left shoulder pain. She claimed this was a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA).

The respondent was the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Petitioner's counsel was Maximillian J.

Muller, and respondent's counsel was Lisa A. Watts.

Special Master Laura D. Millman presided over the case.

The medical records indicated that petitioner's condition was osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease typically seen in older individuals, which vaccinations do not cause. Her treating physicians did not attribute her osteoarthritis to the vaccination.

Petitioner herself later filed a motion to dismiss her petition on February 15, 2017, stating she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation and that proceeding further would be unreasonable and waste resources. The Special Master granted her motion, dismissing the case.

The medical records showed a history of arthritis in her hands prior to vaccination, and later diagnoses of moderate glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rotator cuff syndrome, and neck pain. Despite her initial claim, the evidence did not support a causal link between the vaccine and her osteoarthritis.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests performed beyond those noted in the medical records, or treatments beyond those documented. No expert witnesses were named in the public decision.

The Special Master's decision was issued on March 14, 2017.