Petitioner Entitled to Compensation for Vaccine-Related Injuries

Strategic Insights -

Kelly Quinn, a petitioner under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, has been ruled entitled to compensation for suffering from vasovagal syncope as a result of a Hepatitis A/B vaccine she received on March 27, 2019. The United States Court of Federal Claims' Chief Special Master, Brian H. Corcoran, issued the ruling on June 12, 2023. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters after Quinn filed a petition on February 11, 2022. Respondent conceded that Quinn is entitled to compensation, citing the recently revised Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which afford a presumption of causation if the onset of vasovagal syncope occurs within one hour after a hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccination.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kelly Quinn, the petitioner, has been ruled entitled to compensation for suffering from vasovagal syncope as a result of a Hepatitis A/B vaccine she received on March 27, 2019.
  • The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters after Quinn filed a petition on February 11, 2022.
  • The Chief Special Master, Brian H. Corcoran, issued the ruling on June 12, 2023, finding that Quinn is entitled to compensation.
  • Respondent conceded that Quinn is entitled to compensation, citing the recently revised Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation.
  • The petitioner alleges that her vaccine-related injuries lasted more than six months and resulted in inpatient surgical intervention.
  • Respondent agrees that the petitioner experienced more than six months of residual effects.

Statistics:

  • 1 hour: The time period within which the onset of vasovagal syncope must occur after a hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccination to consider it vaccine-related.
  • 6 months: The duration of the vaccine-related injuries experienced by the petitioner.
  • 1 day: The timeframe for the petitioner to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Sources:

  • United States Court of Federal Claims, OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS, No. 22-0144V, Kelly Quinn, Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.
  • 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq. (the "Vaccine Act")
  • 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services)
  • Vaccine Rule 18(b)
  • National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.