Tasha Long v. HHS - Influenza, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2021)

Tasha Long filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on October 2, 2019, alleging she suffered a Table injury, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), as a result of her October 23, 2017 influenza vaccination. She stated the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she suffered residual effects for more than six months, and that she had no prior award or settlement for her injury.

Respondent denied that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the flu vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that her current condition was a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on June 25, 2021, agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation.

The Chief Special Master adopted the stipulation as the decision awarding damages. Tasha Long was awarded a lump sum of $20,000.00 payable to her, and a lump sum of $414.39 to reimburse a Medicaid lien for services rendered by the State of Illinois.

This amount represents compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.