Douglas Eberline v. HHS - Influenza, polymyalgia rheumatica (2025)

On May 4, 2023, Douglas Eberline filed a petition alleging that a pneumococcal vaccine administered on August 19, 2020 and an influenza vaccine administered on September 12, 2020 caused polymyalgia rheumatica. The medical record showed earlier carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis, and his first post-vaccination presentation included hand numbness, tingling, and burning diagnosed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

He also reported joint stiffness and elevated inflammatory markers, and treating physicians considered PMR or reactive arthritis. His symptoms improved with steroid treatment.

Petitioner's rheumatology expert, Dr. Petros Efthimiou, opined that the flu vaccine was likely a substantial factor in triggering PMR.

He cited case reports and literature discussing PMR after immunization, immune activation, cytokine pathways, and the possibility that the pneumococcal immune response was still active when the flu vaccine was administered. Respondent's rheumatology expert, Dr.

Maxime Kinet, agreed that Mr. Eberline's presentation could be consistent with PMR but emphasized that PMR and influenza vaccination are both common in older adults and that chance association was more likely.

He argued that Dr. Efthimiou's theory relied on high-level immune concepts without specific evidence showing how flu or pneumococcal vaccination causes PMR.

Chief Special Master Corcoran denied entitlement on December 1, 2025. He noted that Program decisions have repeatedly rejected PMR-vaccine causation theories, including theories offered by the same expert.

Even assuming PMR was the correct diagnosis, the record did not preponderantly establish a reliable medical theory, a vaccine-caused sequence of events in Mr. Eberline, or a medically reliable onset interval.

No compensation was awarded.