B.B. v. HHS - Tdap, type 1 diabetes mellitus (2025)

Debbie Nease Bohannon, on behalf of her son B.B., filed a petition, alleging that the Tdap and meningococcal conjugate vaccines administered on May 14, 2021, caused B.B. to develop type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). B.B., who was 12 years old at the time of vaccination, had no prior medical history relevant to diabetes, though some family members had type 2 diabetes.

Following vaccination, B.B. experienced symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, leading to an emergency room visit approximately six weeks later where he was diagnosed with T1DM and diabetic ketoacidosis. The petition was supported by an expert report from Dr.

David Axelrod, who theorized that vaccine-induced cytokines and molecular mimicry could lead to an autoimmune attack on pancreatic beta cells. This theory was contested by respondent's experts, Dr.

Steven Willi and Dr. You-Wen He.

The court reviewed the petitioner's causation theory and the medical records. Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran found that the petitioner failed to establish a scientifically reliable theory that vaccines can cause T1DM, noting the consistent rejection of such claims in prior Vaccine Program cases and the lack of new scientific evidence supporting the petitioner's specific arguments. The court also highlighted that T1DM is a chronic condition with a long, often subclinical, development period, making a rapid onset post-vaccination unlikely to be vaccine-caused.

The court concluded that the petitioner did not meet the burden of proof for a causation-in-fact claim and denied compensation. Petitioner was represented by Lisa A.

Roquemore, and Respondent was represented by Mark K. Hellie.