Wanda Rodgers v. HHS - Influenza, Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2022)

Wanda Rodgers filed a petition alleging that she suffered shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) in both her right and left shoulders, caused by the influenza and Tdap vaccines she received on September 13, 2016. The court found that her injuries met the criteria for Table SIRVAs.

The medical records indicated that Ms. Rodgers experienced pain in both arms shortly after vaccination, which persisted for approximately ten months.

She sought treatment, including multiple cortisone injections, and her right shoulder MRI showed degenerative tearing. The respondent argued that her pain was not limited to the injection site and that she had prior conditions that could explain her symptoms.

However, the court found that her prior conditions, such as brachial venous occlusion and lipomas, did not explain the shoulder pain. The court determined that Ms.

Rodgers' injuries satisfied the Table SIRVA definition, including the requirement of no prior shoulder pain that would explain the symptoms and that the pain occurred within 48 hours of vaccination. The case proceeded to damages, where the parties could not agree on an amount.

The court awarded Ms. Rodgers $117,500.00 for pain and suffering and $3,158.26 for past unreimbursable expenses, for a total award of $120,658.26.

The court noted that while Ms. Rodgers suffered bilateral injuries, her pain was generally less severe than in some other SIRVA cases, and she experienced significant relief from injections.

The court also considered that she had unrelated pain during the period of her injury.