Sonia Garza v. HHS - Influenza, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2025)

Sonia Garza filed a petition for vaccine compensation on August 13, 2025, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccination she received on December 23, 2020. She stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that she had not received any prior award or settlement for this injury.

Respondent denied that Ms. Garza suffered a Table SIRVA injury, denied that any vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that her current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.

Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on August 11, 2025, agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The Chief Special Master adopted the stipulation as the decision, awarding Ms.

Garza a lump sum of $30,000.00 for all items of damages available under Section 15(a). This amount was to be paid through an ACH deposit to her counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.

The parties also agreed to submit to further proceedings for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. The stipulation expressed a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, but it was not an admission by the United States or the Secretary that the flu vaccine caused Ms.

Garza's alleged injury.