Edward A. Sokol v. HHS - Influenza, stroke, specifically a subarachnoid hemorrhage (2020)

Petitioner Edward A. Sokol, born in 1956, filed a claim for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 9, 2020, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 22, 2014, caused his subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Mr. Sokol contended that the vaccination led to his stroke.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied the claim. Mr.

Sokol presented expert testimony from neurologist George A. Small, while the respondent presented expert testimony from vascular neurologist Steven Messé.

Special Master Christian J. Moran presided over the case.

The Special Master found that Mr. Sokol failed to meet his burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.

The decision was based on several factors: the superior qualifications of Dr. Messé in the field of stroke compared to Dr.

Small; weaknesses in Dr. Small's proposed medical theory linking the vaccine to the SAH; the failure to establish a proximate temporal relationship between the vaccination and the injury; and the presence of alternative risk factors for stroke.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests beyond imaging studies, or treatments other than the surgical clipping of the aneurysm and subsequent rehabilitation. Mr.

Sokol's claim was denied, and no award was granted.