Catalina Sastre v. HHS - Influenza, left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2023)

Catalina Sastre filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 9, 2017. She claimed to have experienced residual effects for more than six months.

Respondent denied that petitioner sustained a Table injury for SIRVA or that the flu vaccine caused her injury. Despite these disagreements, the parties filed a joint stipulation to settle the case and award compensation.

The court adopted the stipulation, awarding Catalina Sastre a total of $50,958.43. This amount included a lump sum of $40,000.00 payable to her, $4,261.38 to reimburse a Medicaid lien from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and $4,697.05 to reimburse a Medicaid lien from the City of New York.

These payments represent compensation for all eligible damages under the Vaccine Act. The stipulation also addressed future proceedings for attorneys' fees and costs.

In return for these payments, Catalina Sastre released the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from all claims related to the flu vaccine administered on October 9, 2017.