Nina Cupples v. HHS - Pneumococcal, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2023)

Nina Cupples filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on October 29, 2020, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar 13) on November 6, 2017. She alleged that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced residual effects for more than six months, and that she had no prior award or settlement for this injury.

Respondent denied that Ms. Cupples sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the vaccine caused her shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that her current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.

Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on April 6, 2023, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision awarding damages.

Ms. Cupples was awarded a lump sum of $41,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.