In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-1449V
Filed: April 12, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
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RUTH MAJOR, *
*
Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
* Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”)
*
Respondent. *
*
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Carol L. Gallagher, Linwood, NJ, attorney for petitioner.
Ann Donohue Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On December 1, 2015, Ruth Major (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that as a result of an influenza (“flu”)
vaccine administered to her on January 4, 2015, she suffered a shoulder injury related
to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 2. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On April 8, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
at 1. Specifically, respondent states that petitioner’s “alleged injury is consistent with
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), and that it was caused in
fact by the flu vaccine she received on January 4, 2015.” Id. at 2. Respondent further
1
Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)(Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
agrees that petitioner has met the statutory requirements for entitlement to
compensation. Id. at 3.
In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
2