Julia Hunt v. HHS - Influenza, dermatomyositis (2024)

Julia Hunt filed a petition alleging that she suffered dermatomyositis following an influenza vaccination she received on November 14, 2017. She claimed her injury was caused-in-fact by the vaccination.

The court reviewed the medical records and expert reports from both petitioner and respondent. Petitioner's expert, Dr.

Gershwin, proposed a theory linking the flu vaccine to dermatomyositis through interferon-mediated inflammation and autoimmune mechanisms, citing several studies and a mouse model. Respondent's experts, Dr.

Mecoli and Dr. Moy, countered that the link between flu vaccines and dermatomyositis is not well-supported by scientific evidence, that case reports are insufficient to establish causation, and that the timing of onset in Ms.

Hunt's case was too soon to be medically acceptable for inferring causation. The court found that while vaccines can elicit an immune response, this does not automatically mean the response is pathological.

The court also noted that the literature cited by petitioner's expert was largely unpersuasive, with some being case reports, others not directly implicating the flu vaccine, and one study showing no statistically significant increase in dermatomyositis after mass vaccination. Furthermore, the court found that the petitioner's treating physician's opinion was based on the theory of autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), which has been rejected in prior cases.

The court concluded that Ms. Hunt failed to establish a reputable medical theory, a logical sequence of cause and effect, or a proximate temporal relationship between the vaccination and her dermatomyositis.

Therefore, the petition was dismissed.