Joanne Rivers v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2022)

Joanne Rivers filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on September 5, 2017. She further alleged that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months after vaccination.

The respondent denied that Ms. Rivers sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the flu vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury, and denied that the flu vaccine caused any other injury or her current condition.

Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The Chief Special Master adopted the stipulation as the decision awarding damages.

Ms. Rivers was awarded a lump sum of $95,000.00, which represents compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The case proceeded as a Table claim, and the parties stipulated to the award amount.