Kenneth Armstrong v. HHS - Tdap, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (2022)

On March 7, 2018, Alicea Armstrong, as the personal representative of the Estate of Kenneth Armstrong, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Mr.

Armstrong suffered acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and that his death on July 17, 2017, was a sequela of this alleged vaccine-related injury. The petition stated that Mr.

Armstrong received a Tdap vaccine. The respondent denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr.

Armstrong's alleged ADEM, any other injury, or his death. The parties subsequently filed a joint stipulation for damages on August 1, 2022, agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

Special Master Daniel T. Horner reviewed the stipulation and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

Pursuant to the stipulation, a lump sum award of $235,250.00 was granted, payable to Alicea Armstrong as the legal representative of the estate. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The decision was entered on August 26, 2022. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details of Mr.

Armstrong's condition, any diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received. The public decision also does not name any medical experts or detail the specific mechanism of injury.