Josephine Inyang v. HHS - Influenza, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) (2024)

Josephine Inyang alleges that an influenza vaccine administered on November 21, 2017, caused her to suffer from neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The Secretary disputed this, arguing that Ms.

Inyang already had undiagnosed NMOSD before vaccination. Ms.

Inyang filed her petition on January 17, 2020. Medical records and expert opinions were submitted by both parties.

While the parties agreed that Ms. Inyang suffered from NMOSD by December 6, 2017, and that MRIs from December 2017 showed chronic lesions predating the vaccination, they disagreed on whether these lesions were demyelinating.

After a hearing with expert testimony from neuroradiologists, the court found it more likely than not that the chronic lesions were demyelinating and consistent with NMOSD, and that Ms. Inyang suffered from NMOSD before her vaccination.

Therefore, the court ruled that the vaccine did not cause her NMOSD but may have significantly aggravated it. The case will proceed to discuss potential aggravation.

The decision was issued on September 5, 2024.