Thomas Hashem v. HHS - Td, left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

On January 12, 2021, Thomas Hashem filed a petition alleging that a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination administered in his left deltoid on September 13, 2019 caused a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. He was 49 years old at vaccination and had received the shot while being treated for a puncture wound.

The first shoulder record came on October 8, 2019, twenty-five days after vaccination, when his primary care physician noted left shoulder pain after the shot and prescribed Naproxen. On November 18, 2019, the physician noted left biceps tenderness, assessed left biceps tendonitis, and prescribed a prednisone taper.

January and February 2020 visits did not mention shoulder pain. The next shoulder record was July 13, 2021, more than nineteen months later, when Mr.

Hashem reported continued pain and reduced left shoulder motion and was assessed with bursitis. Respondent moved to dismiss, arguing that onset did not meet the 48-hour Table requirement and that Mr.

Hashem could not prove residual effects for more than six months. Mr.

Hashem did not respond. Chief Special Master Corcoran dismissed the petition on November 17, 2025, finding the severity problem dispositive.

The 19-month treatment gap, including silence at pre-pandemic early 2020 appointments, was too large to establish the statutory six-month duration requirement through medical records or competent medical opinion. No compensation was awarded.