Julie Mertz v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) (2025)

On October 3, 2024, Julie Mertz filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on October 25, 2021 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome. Respondent conceded entitlement in a Rule 4(c) report filed April 18, 2025, agreeing that Ms.

Mertz satisfied the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for GBS after seasonal influenza vaccination. The public ruling states that the Table affords a presumption of causation when GBS onset occurs between three and forty-two days after seasonal flu vaccination and no apparent alternative cause is present.

Chief Special Master Corcoran granted entitlement on April 21, 2025. The public ruling does not describe Ms.

Mertz's first neurologic symptom, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, treatment, recovery, or expert opinions. No damages decision or vaccine-injury compensation award was present in the public text reviewed for this update.