Bala Muccala v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2018)

Bala Muccala filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 18, 2017. The petitioner alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine administered on September 11, 2015.

The petition stated that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that the injury caused residual effects for more than six months, and that no civil action for damages had been filed. The respondent denied that the Tdap vaccine caused the petitioner's shoulder injury or any other condition.

On July 27, 2018, both parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the Court's decision.

Bala Muccala was awarded a lump sum of $38,259.54, representing compensation for all available items of damages. The clerk was directed to enter judgment accordingly.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests performed, treatments received, or the mechanism of injury. Petitioner's counsel was Andrew Donald Downing of Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, and respondent's counsel was Lara Ann Englund of the U.S.

Department of Justice.