Patricia Howard v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2024)

Patricia Howard filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 5, 2021. She alleged that she received an influenza vaccination on October 24, 2019, and subsequently suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), which is a condition listed in the Vaccine Injury Table.

Ms. Howard further alleged that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced residual effects of the injury for more than six months, and that she had not received a prior award or settlement for this injury.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms. Howard sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the vaccine caused her alleged SIRVA, and denied that the flu vaccine caused any other injury or her current condition.

Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation on March 18, 2024. Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran reviewed the stipulation, found it reasonable, and adopted it as the decision of the court. Ms.

Howard was awarded a lump sum of $36,000.00, payable by check to the Petitioner, as compensation for all eligible damages. The decision was filed on April 23, 2024.

Petitioner was represented by Ronald Craig Homer of Conway, Homer, P.C., and Respondent was represented by Madelyn Weeks of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.