Yvonne Simpson v. HHS - Influenza, Guillian-Barré Syndrome (GBS) (2025)

Yvonne Simpson, a 42-year-old adult, received an influenza vaccine on December 14, 2010. She filed a petition alleging this vaccine caused her to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

The medical records indicated that Ms. Simpson first experienced symptoms of tingling and numbness approximately four days after vaccination, with progression to weakness and mobility issues.

Her initial treating physician, Dr. Zhu, diagnosed her with GBS approximately two weeks after symptom onset, noting that while her reflexes were maintained, a lumbar puncture confirmed the diagnosis.

She received IVIG therapy and underwent rehabilitation. However, the case became complex as her condition evolved over several years, with subsequent treating physicians diagnosing her with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and potentially diabetic neuropathy.

Petitioner's expert, Dr. Hoke, argued that she suffered from GBS and its sequelae, later developing diabetic neuropathy, and that the flu vaccine caused her GBS through molecular mimicry, with an onset outside the Table's 42-day window but still within a reasonable period.

Respondent's expert, Dr. Donofrio, contended that Ms.

Simpson suffered from CIDP, not GBS, and that her symptoms were not vaccine-related. The Special Master found that while Petitioner presented a plausible theory for vaccine-induced GBS, the preponderance of the evidence, including the opinions of multiple treating physicians and medical literature, indicated that Ms.

Simpson suffered from CIDP, not GBS. The court also determined that the claim was time-barred as a CIDP case, and the GBS lookback provision was inapplicable.

Ultimately, the court concluded that Ms. Simpson failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she suffered from GBS caused by the flu vaccination, and therefore, her petition was denied.