Jennifer Sepate v. HHS - Influenza, left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2023)

Jennifer Sepate filed a petition on November 30, 2022, alleging she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 17, 2019. She claimed the injury met the Table definition and that she experienced residual effects for more than six months.

Respondent denied that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as his decision.

Jennifer Sepate was awarded a lump sum of $52,500.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical examinations, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Petitioner was represented by Jonathan Joseph Svitak of Shannon Law Group, P.C., and Respondent was represented by James Vincent Lopez of the U.S. Department of Justice.