Chelsea Hughes v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

Chelsea Hughes filed a petition alleging a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) from an influenza vaccine received on January 22, 2020. The case was initially processed as a Table claim.

However, the Special Master found that the petitioner's pain and symptoms were not limited to the vaccinated shoulder, citing evidence of numbness, tingling, and pain in her hands, arms, face, and neck, as well as a tremor and stuttering tongue. Because the injury did not meet the Table criteria for SIRVA, which requires symptoms to be limited to the affected shoulder, the Table claim was dismissed.

The case was transferred out of the Special Processing Unit to allow the petitioner to pursue an off-Table claim for an alternative injury, such as neuropathy or aggravation of existing sickle cell disease, with expert support. The petitioner's Table SIRVA claim was dismissed, but her non-Table claim may proceed.