Amanda Gray v. HHS - Influenza, right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

On November 7, 2022, Amanda Gray filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on September 23, 2020 caused a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. The vaccine record listed the left arm, but the next day Ms.

Gray was seen at employee health for right shoulder pain. She reported that the shot had been given in her right arm and that she immediately felt severe pain at the injection site.

The nurse practitioner saw an 11 mm bruise around a puncture mark near the acromion of the right shoulder. Ms.

Gray had no pain at rest, but she had decreased range of motion and 8 out of 10 pain deep in the shoulder with movement. She was diagnosed with vaccine reaction and possible bursitis, prescribed prednisone and ibuprofen, and placed on light duty.

She returned a week later, improved while on prednisone but worse after stopping it, and was referred to orthopedics. An orthopedist later documented concern for reactive synovitis secondary to the flu vaccination and gave a cortisone injection.

After temporary improvement, Ms. Gray returned with continued right shoulder symptoms, had an MRI showing a low-grade partial-thickness rotator cuff tear and superior labral tear, and completed physical therapy through July 2021.

She saw pain management in September 2022 for persistent right shoulder pain and received a second cortisone injection. Respondent contested the vaccination site and later the six-month severity requirement.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran credited the right-shoulder evidence, found that the symptoms persisted long enough despite treatment gaps, and awarded $63,000.00 for actual pain and suffering on December 18, 2025.