Sherri Allen v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On December 2, 2021, Sherri Allen filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 24, 2019 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. The entitlement ruling described a mixed shoulder and neurologic record.
Ms. Allen had significant medical history, but no prior left-shoulder pain, inflammation, or dysfunction explaining the alleged vaccine injury.
After vaccination she reported a large painful reaction, numbness, shooting pain, neck complaints, and difficulty raising her arm. She began physical therapy in November 2019 for right shoulder and neck pain, numbness in the right fourth and fifth fingers, arm burning, and inability to raise her arm.
Records later noted complex regional pain syndrome, mild bursitis on shoulder MRI, cervical disc bulging, a partial-thickness tear, impingement syndrome, incomplete rotator cuff tear, osteoarthritis, and a steroid injection. Respondent argued that the pain was not limited to the shoulder because the record included neck, arm, hand, and numbness complaints.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found the shoulder-specific evidence sufficient for Table SIRVA, while recognizing that non-SIRVA issues would matter for damages.
He found entitlement on March 13, 2025. On July 14, 2025, he awarded $62,500.00 for pain and suffering as a lump sum.