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

On September 14, 2023, Jennifer Sigan filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered in her left deltoid on October 18, 2022 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. Respondent disputed one Table element, arguing that the medical records did not show symptoms limited to the vaccinated shoulder because two records described left arm pain radiating from the shoulder toward the hand.

The medical record, however, repeatedly tied the injury to the left shoulder. Ten days after vaccination, Ms.

Sigan reported limited left arm pain radiating from the shoulder, weak grip, decreased range of motion, tenderness, and pain with overhead extension; she was assessed with left arm pain and adverse effect of vaccine and prescribed an oral steroid and home exercises. On January 4, 2023, a neurologist recorded that she started losing mobility and having severe left-shoulder pain two days after vaccination, denied numbness and tingling, and was referred for EMG and physical therapy.

On January 13, an orthopedist noted stiff, sharp lateral shoulder pain, sleep difficulty, tenderness, decreased internal range of motion, positive impingement signs, and gave a steroid injection. She began physical therapy on January 20 and later MRI showed rotator cuff tendinosis without tear and a SLAP tear.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found on June 12, 2025 that Ms.

Sigan's symptoms were more likely than not limited to the left shoulder for Table purposes. The parties then resolved damages by stipulation, and on August 4, 2025, he awarded $60,771.15 as a lump sum.