Michele Sites v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

Michele Sites filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 11, 2023. She received a Tdap vaccine on May 10, 2021, which is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table.

Ms. Sites alleged that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) within the Table's timeframe and experienced residual effects for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms. Sites sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury.

Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on May 22, 2025, agreeing to an award of compensation. Chief Special Master Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision.

Ms. Sites was awarded a lump sum of $70,000.00 as compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.

This award was to be paid through an ACH deposit to her counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.