Donald Winkler v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2022)

Donald Winkler, a 66-year-old man, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that a Tdap vaccination he received on April 26, 2017, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). He also received a Prevnar vaccine two days later.

Mr. Winkler experienced symptoms of weakness and diarrhea approximately two weeks after his vaccination, leading to a GBS diagnosis.

The Special Master considered expert testimony from both sides. Petitioner's expert, Dr.

Rinker, opined that the Tdap vaccine could cause GBS through molecular mimicry and that it was the more likely cause of Mr. Winkler's GBS, citing case reports and the timing of symptom onset.

Respondent's experts, Dr. Whitton and Dr.

Chaudhry, argued that a gastrointestinal (GI) infection, likely Campylobacter jejuni, was the more probable cause of Mr. Winkler's GBS, citing the strong association between GI infections and GBS and the incubation periods involved.

They also challenged the evidence linking Tdap vaccines to GBS. The Special Master found that while the medical theory of molecular mimicry was accepted, Mr.

Winkler failed to establish a logical sequence of cause and effect showing the vaccination was the reason for his injury, particularly given the presence of a preceding GI illness. The Special Master acknowledged that Mr.

Winkler was not required to eliminate other potential causes but found that the evidence of a GI illness made it difficult to attribute causation solely to the vaccine. Ultimately, the Special Master concluded that Mr.

Winkler did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the Tdap vaccine caused his GBS and denied his petition. This decision was later affirmed by the Court of Federal Claims.