Janardhana Donga v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (2022)

Janardhana Donga filed a petition for compensation on June 21, 2018, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccination he received on October 22, 2016. Mr.

Donga was 55 years old at the time of vaccination. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, initially contested entitlement but later conceded that Mr.

Donga was entitled to compensation. This concession followed a factual finding by the Special Master that Mr.

Donga's shoulder pain began within 48 hours of his vaccination. The case proceeded as an "on-Table" claim.

The parties agreed that $380.00 was an appropriate amount for unreimbursed medical expenses. After reviewing the medical records and arguments presented, Special Master Christian J.

Moran determined that a reasonable award for pain and suffering was $70,000. Mr.

Donga did not request compensation for future pain and suffering. The final decision, issued on April 20, 2022, awarded Mr.

Donga a total of $70,380.00, to be paid in a lump sum. The decision was issued by Special Master Christian J.

Moran, with Bridget C. McCullough of Muller Brazil, LLP representing the petitioner and Camille M.

Collett of the United States Department of Justice representing the respondent. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury or name any medical experts.