Jacqueline Rice-McKenzie v. HHS - Influenza, post-vaccination polyradiculopathy and sensory symptoms (2025)

On July 3, 2019, Jacqueline Rice-McKenzie filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on August 30, 2016, caused a neurologic illness she characterized as post-vaccination polyradiculopathy. She was 41 years old, an emergency-room physician, and physically active before vaccination.

The first symptoms documented in the record were a thumb twitch around September 19, 2016, followed by thumb and cheek spasms and right-sided numbness and tingling involving the tongue and upper mouth near the end of September. During hospitalization, her neurologic examination was largely normal.

CSF, brain and cervical imaging, MRA, and EMG testing did not support Guillain-Barre syndrome or AIDP. The hospital records noted hypocalcemia, elevated CK, vitamin D deficiency, fatigue, paresthesias, and subjective weakness.

She improved with steroids and therapy. Later records reflected persistent sensory complaints, but repeat imaging, EMGs, skin biopsy, and neuropsychological testing were normal or inconclusive.

Petitioner ultimately conceded that she did not have GBS and proceeded without an expert report, arguing instead for a vaccine-caused polyradiculopathy. Special Master Laura D.

Millman Roth found that the record did not establish a reliable medical theory connecting influenza vaccination to the claimed condition, did not establish a definitive vaccine-caused diagnosis, and did not show a logical sequence of cause and effect. Treating notes that repeated a possible vaccine association were not enough without a sound scientific explanation.

On September 16, 2025, entitlement was denied and the petition was dismissed. No compensation was awarded.

Dr. Rice-McKenzie was represented by Laura Levenberg of Muller Brazil.