Sanfratello v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-1222V

BETTY SANFRATELLO, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: May 12, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Julia Wernett McInerny, Mctlaw, Washington, D.C., for Petitioner.

Lauren Kells, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On July 24, 2025, Betty Sanfratello 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 from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from the influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October 25, 2023. Petition at ¶¶ 1- 39-40. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Id. at ¶¶ 41-44. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018).

On May 11, 2026, 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, [the Division of Injury Compensation Programs] has determined that [P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which afford [P]etitioner a presumption of causation if the onset of GBS occurs between three and forty- two days after a seasonal flu vaccination and there is no apparent alternative cause. 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(XIV)(D), (c)(15). Therefore, based on the record as it now stands, [P]etitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 13(a)(1); 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1).

Id. at 10.

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