Melissa French v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2025)

Melissa French filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following an influenza vaccine received on October 19, 2022. The petition stated that symptoms, including tingling in her left arm and leg, began on October 21, 2022, two days after vaccination.

Medical records consistently placed the onset of her symptoms within two days post-vaccination, with one record indicating onset as early as one day after vaccination. The respondent argued that the onset did not fall within the required 3-42 day timeframe for a Table GBS claim and that a prior COVID-19 infection and history of strokes presented alternative causes.

The Chief Special Master found that the petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that her GBS onset occurred within the Table's defined timeframe. Consequently, the Table GBS claim was dismissed, and the case was transferred out of the Special Processing Unit to proceed as a causation-in-fact claim, likely requiring medical expert testimony.