Autumn Hobson v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

Autumn Hobson filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on February 21, 2024, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on October 7, 2022. She further alleged that the vaccine was received in the United States, that she suffered residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that neither she nor any other party had ever received compensation for her vaccine-related injury.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report on December 5, 2024, conceding that the petitioner's alleged injury was consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and that she had satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act. On December 13, 2024, Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding the petitioner entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on March 25, 2025, the respondent filed a Proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $92,500.00 for pain and suffering, which the petitioner agreed to.

On May 2, 2025, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Decision Awarding Damages, awarding the petitioner a lump sum payment of $92,500.00 for pain and suffering. This amount was to be paid through an ACH deposit to the petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to the petitioner.

Petitioner was represented by Lawrence R. Cohan of Saltz, Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, and respondent was represented by Jay Travis Williamson of the U.S.

Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of injury.