Deana Tona v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2021)

Deana Tona filed a petition for vaccine compensation on March 4, 2020, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) caused by a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on January 28, 2019. She stated the vaccine was administered in the United States, that her condition had residual effects for more than six months, and that she had not received a prior award or settlement for this injury.

Respondent denied that Ms. Tona sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the Tdap 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 July 6, 2021, agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Chief Special Master Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as her decision.

Ms. Tona was awarded a lump sum of $88,349.36, representing compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.

The Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, and the parties stipulated to an award, indicating the case proceeded as a Table claim.