Richard Feider, Sr. v. HHS - Influenza, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (“SIRS”) that progressed to multiple organ dysfunction and death (2022)

Richard Feider, Sr., a 72-year-old man, received an influenza and a pneumococcal vaccine on September 20, 2016. He initially experienced mild flu-like symptoms the day after vaccination, but reported feeling much improved and back to his usual state of health by the third day.

However, late on the third night, he developed sudden shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, leading to hospitalization. During hospitalization, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis, and his condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to hypoxic respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and ultimately, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Mr. Feider died on October 9, 2016.

The petitioner, Tricia Switzer, as executor of Mr. Feider's estate, alleged that the vaccines caused SIRS, MODS, ARDS, and AKI, leading to his death.

The court considered expert opinions on whether the vaccines could cause SIRS and related complications. Ultimately, the court found that the petitioner failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the vaccines caused Mr.

Feider's condition, citing a one-and-a-half-day improvement in symptoms inconsistent with the proposed cytokine cascade theory and the consistent diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia by treating physicians. The petition was dismissed.