Eric Williams v. HHS - Influenza, polymyalgia rheumatica (2025)

Eric Williams, a 51-year-old adult, received an influenza vaccine on October 6, 2017. He alleged that this vaccination caused him to develop polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a condition characterized by aching and stiffness in the shoulders and hip girdle, typically affecting individuals over 50.

Mr. Williams also reported experiencing severe hip and shoulder pain, rash, and depression.

The court reviewed the evidence, including medical records and expert reports from both sides. Petitioner's experts, Drs.

Brawer and Akbari, proposed theories involving molecular mimicry and autoinflammatory processes to link the flu vaccine to PMR. However, the court found these theories to be underdeveloped, conclusory, and lacking credible scientific support.

Respondent's experts, Drs. Oddis and Romberg, argued that PMR has an unknown etiology, is not definitively considered autoimmune, and that there is no scientific evidence to support a link between the flu vaccine and PMR.

The court found the respondent's experts more persuasive, concluding that Mr. Williams failed to establish a sound and reliable medical theory connecting the vaccine to his PMR, a critical requirement for off-Table claims under the Althen test.

Because the first prong of the Althen test was not met, the court did not need to fully analyze the second and third prongs (logical sequence of cause and effect and proximate temporal relationship), though it noted that the cause of PMR is unknown, making it difficult to establish a causal link. Ultimately, the court denied Mr.

Williams' petition, finding he did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccine caused his PMR.