Rhonda Meade v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2019)

Rhonda Meade filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on October 30, 2017, alleging she developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on November 5, 2014. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) Report conceding that Ms.

Meade satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and its Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Based on this concession, the Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding Ms.

Meade entitled to compensation for her GBS and its related sequelae. The parties subsequently reached a stipulation on damages.

The respondent proffered a lump sum payment of $211,006.94 to compensate Ms. Meade for pain and suffering ($200,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses ($11,006.94).

The Special Master adopted the parties' proffer and awarded compensation in that amount. The decision was issued on July 30, 2019.