Michael Johnson v. HHS - Influenza, hemolytic anemia resulting in permanent tooth loss (2026)

Michael Johnson filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine received on October 28, 2020, caused him to develop hemolytic anemia resulting in permanent tooth loss. At the time of vaccination, Mr.

Johnson was 50 years old and had a significant medical history including sarcoidosis, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Five days after vaccination, he presented with symptoms of fatigue, chills, and body aches, and laboratory tests revealed anemia and a positive direct antiglobulin test.

He was hospitalized and diagnosed with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). The parties opted to resolve the claim on the written record.

Petitioner's expert, Dr. Clinton F.

Merrill, Jr., opined that the flu vaccine could have caused the AIHA through autoimmune mechanisms like molecular mimicry. Respondent's expert, Dr.

You-Wen He, argued that there was no established link between the flu vaccine and AIHA, and that Petitioner's pre-existing sarcoidosis was a more likely cause. The Special Master denied entitlement, finding that Petitioner failed to establish all three prongs of the Althen test for causation.

Specifically, the court found the reported same-day onset of symptoms was not a medically acceptable timeframe for autoimmune disease development, and that it was not preponderantly demonstrated that the flu vaccine could likely cause AIHA. The court also noted that while treater opinions supported a vaccine link, Dr.

He presented a plausible alternative cause in sarcoidosis. Therefore, the petition was denied.