Isabel Del Vecchio v. HHS - Influenza, left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

On January 12, 2021, Isabel Del Vecchio filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on February 17, 2018, caused a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. The vaccine record did not clearly identify the side, and respondent contested the Table SIRVA elements.

Ms. Del Vecchio had a remote history of neck and shoulder complaints, but her last documented treatment was well before vaccination.

On March 1, 2018, she reported left arm pain beginning the day of the flu shot and left-sided neck, upper back, and shoulder pain the next day. She described pain while driving and turning pages.

Later records noted persistent arm pain, pain with shoulder testing, reduced range of motion in physical therapy, and MRI findings of trace subacromial/subdeltoid bursal fluid. Orthopedist Dr.

Anbari diagnosed chemical bursitis secondary to injection and distinguished the shoulder problem from later cervical radiculitis and degenerative neck findings. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey Horner found that Ms.

Del Vecchio proved a Table SIRVA. The decision acknowledged that the case was close because some symptoms involved the neck and radiating pain, but credited the contemporaneous shoulder records and treating opinion tying the shoulder bursitis to the injection.

On September 16, 2025, Ms. Del Vecchio was awarded $63,820.00: $62,500.00 for pain and suffering and $1,320.00 for unreimbursable expenses.

She was represented by Renee Gentry.