Linda Howard v. HHS - Influenza, right shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2022)

Linda Howard filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging that she suffered right shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on August 21, 2019. She further alleged that her injury lasted more than six months and that she had not received any prior award or settlement for this condition.

Respondent denied that Ms. Howard sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that her shoulder injury was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine, and denied that the flu vaccine caused any other injury or sequela.

Despite these denials, on June 29, 2022, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as its decision.

Pursuant to the stipulation, Ms. Howard was awarded a lump sum of $73,309.94, representing compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.