Johnny Matthews v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2022)

Johnny Matthews filed a petition alleging Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) caused by an influenza vaccination received around November 10, 2013. The case proceeded with the central issue being whether Mr.

Matthews had actually received the vaccination. Despite his claims and some medical record notations suggesting a possible vaccination or an allergy to the flu vaccine, the court found a lack of preponderant evidence.

Numerous inconsistencies existed in his reported vaccination dates and status across various medical encounters. Furthermore, his own account of receiving the vaccine during a hospitalization was contradicted by surgical reports and billing records, which indicated no vaccination was administered and that he had declined it.

Efforts to confirm the vaccination with the hospital where it was allegedly administered were unsuccessful, with records showing no such vaccination. The Special Master dismissed the petition, finding that the evidence did not establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Mr.

Matthews received a vaccination covered by the program. This decision was affirmed on review by the Court of Federal Claims, which found the Special Master's ruling was not arbitrary or capricious, upholding the dismissal.