Kenneth Heron v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (2022)

Kenneth Heron filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 14, 2020. He alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) resulting from an influenza vaccine he received on March 3, 2019.

Mr. Heron stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, his symptoms persisted for more than six months, and he had not received any prior award or settlement for this injury.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Mr. Heron sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the vaccine caused his shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that his current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.

Despite the respondent's denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on July 21, 2022, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as its decision.

Mr. Heron was awarded a lump sum of $47,500.00, which represents compensation for all items of damages available under the program.

This decision was entered on August 23, 2022.