Elisabeth Link v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2020)

Elisabeth Link filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 22, 2017, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of a Tdap vaccine administered on September 21, 2015. Ms.

Link stated the vaccine was administered in the United States and that she suffered residual effects for more than six months, with no prior award or settlement for this injury. The respondent denied that the Tdap vaccine caused her SIRVA or current condition.

The parties, represented by Jessica Olins of Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA for the petitioner and Althea Walker Davis of the U.S. Department of Justice for the respondent, filed a joint stipulation on January 8, 2020.

In this stipulation, they agreed to settle the issues and award compensation. Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran adopted the stipulation as the decision. Ms.

Link was awarded a lump sum of $74,000.00, payable to her, representing compensation for all items of damages. The decision was issued on February 13, 2020.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of injury. The stipulation states that the Tdap vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table.