Nicholas Watkins v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2024)

Nicholas Watkins filed a petition for vaccine compensation on February 21, 2023, alleging a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following a Tdap vaccination on July 5, 2022. He also received a COVID-19 vaccine on the same day.

Watkins alleged that his SIRVA symptoms persisted for longer than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Watkins sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the Tdap vaccine caused his injury.

Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on April 30, 2024, agreeing to settle the case. The court adopted the stipulation as its decision.

Watkins was awarded a lump sum of $28,500.00 as compensation for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. This amount represents a negotiated settlement of liability and damages.

The stipulation also addressed attorneys' fees and costs, and released the United States from further claims related to the vaccination.