Gretchen Eaton v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2023)

Gretchen Eaton filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on July 15, 2019, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) from an influenza vaccine received on October 16, 2017. The vaccine was administered in the United States, and she claimed residual effects lasting more than six months.

Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injuries or that her condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury, and also denied it was a SIRVA Table injury. Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on March 7, 2023, agreeing to settle the case.

Chief Special Master Corcoran adopted the stipulation as her decision, awarding Gretchen Eaton a lump sum of $70,000.00 as compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a). This award represents a compromise of the parties' respective positions on liability and damages.