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Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Petition Withdrawn

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The United States Court of Federal Claims has issued an order concluding proceedings for a petition filed under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by Natasha Dorsey. Dorsey alleged that she suffered injuries after receiving a human papillomavirus vaccination in 2021 and 2022. After failing to receive a decision within the specified timeframe, Dorsey was advised of her options to withdraw the petition or have it remain before the special master. She ultimately elected to withdraw the petition, and her request was granted on June 30, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • Petitioner Natasha Dorsey filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on October 3, 2024, alleging injuries from a human papillomavirus vaccination on October 10, 2021, January 5, 2022, and May 6, 2022.
  • The petition was not decided within the specified time frame, and a notice was issued advising Dorsey of her options to withdraw or have the petition remain before the special master.
  • On June 27, 2025, Dorsey timely filed a notice to withdraw the petition, which was granted by the Chief Special Master on June 30, 2025.
  • This order concludes proceedings "on the merits" of the petition, but no judgment "on the merits" should be entered by the Clerk's Office.
  • The order will be made publicly accessible on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and Dorsey has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Statistics:

  • Total number of days between petition filing and withdrawal notice: 87 days (October 3, 2024, to June 27, 2025).
  • Number of times Dorsey received the HPV vaccination: 3 times (October 10, 2021, January 5, 2022, and May 6, 2022).
  • Total number of days between petition filing and grant of withdrawal: 87 days (October 3, 2024, to June 30, 2025).
  • The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was established by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.

Sources:

  • Opinion from the United States Court of Federal Claims Office of Special Masters, No. 24-1570V.
  • Vaccine Rule 10(b) and 42 U.S.C. § 300aa--21(b) and E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018).
  • National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.

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