Shawn Steiger v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”)…and/or other neurologic and physical impairments and other injuries (2021)

Shawn Steiger filed a petition for compensation on May 24, 2019, alleging that the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine he received on June 23, 2018, caused him to suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or other neurologic and physical impairments. He further alleged that he experienced residual effects for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Petitioner's alleged GBS or any other injury, and denied that his current condition was a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. Despite these denials, on March 26, 2021, the parties filed a stipulation for award.

Special Master Herbrina Sanders reviewed the stipulation. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details of the condition, diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received.

It also does not name any medical experts or detail the specific mechanism of causation. The Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $145,000.00, representing compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The judgment was entered in accordance with the terms of the stipulation.