Thomisa Brown v. HHS - HPV, alopecia areata resulting in depression (2021)

Thomisa Brown filed a petition on August 17, 2021, on behalf of her son, B.F., alleging that he suffered vaccine-induced alopecia areata resulting in depression. The petition stated that B.F. received meningococcal (Menactra), tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines on April 5, 2017, and a second dose of the HPV vaccine on April 18, 2018.

Medical records were filed, and the case was reassigned to Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran.

The Respondent filed a report on March 18, 2021, asserting that compensation was not appropriate. Following an extension granted on June 22, 2021, for the Petitioner to file an expert report, the Petitioner filed an unopposed motion for decision on August 13, 2021.

This motion requested dismissal of the case, with the Petitioner indicating an intention to preserve her rights to file a civil action in the future and electing to reject a Vaccine Program judgment. The Respondent did not respond to the motion.

Chief Special Master Corcoran granted the motion for dismissal with prejudice. The decision noted that the Petitioner offered no expert report or treater support to attribute B.F.'s condition to the vaccinations.

Furthermore, the onset of symptoms appeared to develop over ten months after the April 5, 2017 vaccines and prior to the second HPV vaccination, which the Special Master found did not appear medically acceptable. The court concluded that the Petitioner had not offered sufficient evidence to meet her burden of proof and that there was insufficient reliable scientific proof for the causation theory.

Consequently, the petition was dismissed with prejudice.