Celentano v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1809V UNPUBLISHED

MICHELLE CELENTANO, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: April 29, 2021 v.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner. Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On November 26, 2019, Michelle Celentano 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 left shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on September 28, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On April 28, 2021, 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 agrees that “petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which afford petitioners a presumption of causation if there is no prior history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in the affected shoulder prior to vaccination that would explain the symptoms occurring after vaccination; the onset of shoulder pain occurs within forty-eight hours after the receipt of an intramuscular seasonal flu vaccination; pain and reduced range of motion are limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was given; and there is no apparent alternative cause. Id. at 3-4. Respondent further agrees that “the medical records demonstrate that petitioner has experienced the residual effects of his SIRVA for more than six months [and] [t]herefore, based on the case record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4.

In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master