In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-1295V
Filed: May 15, 2018
UNPUBLISHED
PAMELA M SHAFFER,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
v. Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Administration (SIRVA)
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Stephen S. Crandall, Crandall, Pera, & Wilt LLC, Chagrin Falls, OH, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On September 20, 2017, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a September 30, 2016 influenza vaccination.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.
On May 15, 2018, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that
petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1.
Specifically, respondent states that petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or
dysfunction of her left shoulder; pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an
1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.
2National 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).
intramuscular vaccination; pain was limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was
administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been identified to explain
petitioner’s shoulder pain. Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that petitioner suffered
the residual effects of her condition for more than six months and states, “petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id.
In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master