Terry Cooper v. HHS - Influenza, left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

On May 4, 2023, Terry Cooper filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination on October 16, 2021 caused a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. Respondent contested entitlement, arguing that the most contemporaneous medical records did not document shoulder pain within 48 hours.

Mr. Cooper did not seek shoulder care for nearly six months.

At a December 2021 routine visit, he mentioned knee pain and his flu and COVID vaccinations but not shoulder pain. When he returned to his primary-care provider on April 11, 2022, he reported left shoulder pain since the day of the flu vaccination and said symptoms clearly began the evening after the shot.

Two days later, physical therapy records documented reduced left-shoulder range of motion and strength. Mr.

Cooper explained that he generally avoided doctors if he could manage problems himself, researched SIRVA, tried a home shoulder exercise plan, and delayed formal care because of COVID-19 exposure concerns. His wife, Linda Cooper, a retired nurse who had run flu-shot clinics, recalled seeing the bandage that evening and believing it was placed too high; she said he was restless that night and worse the next day.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found onset within 48 hours and granted entitlement on September 10, 2025, while noting the long delay in care as evidence that the injury was mild enough to tolerate with conservative measures.

Damages were then resolved by proffer. On September 19, 2025, Mr.

Cooper was awarded $25,300.68, consisting of $25,000.00 for pain and suffering and $300.68 for past unreimbursable expenses, paid through counsel's IOLTA account.