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

Martha Tapia filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a consequence of a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination administered on April 18, 2016. She also received varicella and MMR vaccines on the same day but alleged no injury from those.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused her SIRVA or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it. Martha Tapia was awarded a total of $45,111.

This amount included $111.11 to satisfy a California Medicaid lien and $45,000.00 as a lump sum for all other damages. The decision was based on the joint stipulation of the parties.