Ralph Balcom v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2021)

Ralph Balcom filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on September 1, 2018, and other vaccinations including Hepatitis A, Tdap, and Hepatitis B vaccines on October 10, 2018, and various dates in 2018. He further alleged that he suffered residual effects from the GBS for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused Mr. Balcom's GBS or any other injury.

Despite this denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for settlement. The court adopted the stipulation as its decision, awarding Mr.

Balcom a lump sum of $96,000.00. This amount is intended to compensate for all damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The case proceeded as a Table claim, meaning the injury is presumed to be vaccine-related if it meets the criteria on the Vaccine Injury Table. The stipulation was finalized on June 29, 2021, and the decision awarding damages was issued on August 2, 2021.