Andrew Williamson v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2024)

Andrew Williamson filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused by an influenza vaccine administered on March 6, 2020. The respondent argued that the onset of his GBS occurred four months after vaccination, which is beyond the timeframe specified in the Vaccine Injury Table, and that Williamson failed to establish that the vaccine caused his injury.

The court issued an order to show cause why the case should not be dismissed. Subsequently, Williamson filed a motion to dismiss his own petition, acknowledging his inability to prove entitlement to compensation.

He understood that a dismissal would result in a judgment against him and end his rights in the Vaccine Program. The court noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table Injury or that the injury was actually caused by a vaccine.

In this case, the record lacked evidence of a Table Injury and did not contain sufficient medical expert opinions or other persuasive evidence to demonstrate that the vaccine caused the alleged injury. Therefore, the court denied Williamson's claim for compensation and dismissed the case for insufficient proof, entering judgment accordingly.