Brandon Hood v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2017)

Brandon Hood filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine he received on December 5, 2014. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, did not contest entitlement.

The respondent's Rule 4(c) Report indicated that Mr. Hood satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table for GBS following a seasonal flu vaccine, with onset occurring within the specified time period.

Although the petition was filed before the revised Table's effective date, the respondent acknowledged that Mr. Hood could be afforded a presumption of causation under the revised Table.

The court found that Mr. Hood is entitled to an award of damages.

The case was then ordered to proceed with the process of settling appropriate damages, with Mr. Hood tasked with filing status reports on the parties' progress and informing the court on whether a life care planner had been retained.

The decision date was December 12, 2017, and the petition was filed on November 15, 2017.