Katherine Belka v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2022)

Katherine Belka filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 1, 2020, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 11, 2018. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit.

After settlement discussions reached an impasse, the parties proceeded with a hearing on entitlement and damages. The court found that Ms.

Belka is entitled to compensation, as her injury met the criteria for a Table SIRVA. Causation was presumed.

The court awarded her $71,569.95 in total damages, comprising $68,000.00 for pain and suffering and $3,569.95 for unreimbursed expenses. The decision noted that while there was a significant delay in seeking treatment, the injury met the Table criteria, and the award was based on the specific circumstances of her case, considering factors like the severity and duration of her pain, and comparing it to prior SIRVA cases.