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

Christie Schwager filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 12, 2023. She alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), a condition listed in the Vaccine Injury Table, as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on October 4, 2020.

Ms. Schwager stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced residual effects from the injury for more than six months, and that she had no prior award or settlement for this injury.

The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Schwager's injury or that she sustained a SIRVA Table injury.

Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on June 25, 2025, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran found the stipulation to be reasonable and adopted it as the court's decision. Ms.

Schwager was awarded a lump sum of $17,500.00 for all items of damages available under the program. This award was to be paid via ACH deposit to her counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.

Petitioner's counsel was Daniel Alholm of Alholm Law PC, and respondent's counsel was Kimberly Shubert Davey of the U.S. Department of Justice.