Shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) are among the most common serious complications linked to immunization. There is a simple reason why: Unlike other vaccine-related injuries, SIRVA is a risk with all vaccines administered via shoulder injection—because these injuries result from errors during the injection process rather than adverse reactions to individual vaccines. As a result, many people who find themselves needing a vaccine injury attorney do so because they have claims for SIRVA.

But, despite being among the most common types of vaccine-related injuries, SIRVA are still relatively unknown. There appear to be a couple of reasons why.

First, many people simply aren’t aware that vaccine injections can lead to serious shoulder injuries. As a result, many people who experience SIRVA simply don’t know—and don’t tell their doctors—that their injuries may be vaccine-related. Second, there is evidence to suggest that healthcare providers underreport SIRVA in general. Thus, SIRVA may be much more common than many people think, and raising awareness could help lead to more accurate diagnoses in the future.

Vaccine Injury Claims Involving SIRVA Are On the Rise

A study published in 2020 provides support for this possibility. Examining data from 2010 through 2016, the study found that SIRVA claims filed under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) were on the rise. Specifically, “[c]laims per year increased from two in 2011, the first full year in the analytic period, to 227 in 2016.” This is a substantial increase that directly correlates to an overall increase in VICP Claims over the same period.

In other words, while the number of VICP claims for other vaccine injuries remained relatively unchanged, the number of VICP claims for SIRVA rose steadily.

Why is this the case? The study doesn’t answer this question, but there appear to be two possible explanations:

  • The number of incidences of SIRVA increased; and/or,
  • Growing awareness of SIRVA led to an increase in diagnoses and VICP claims.

To be clear, overall, the risk of SIRVA is extremely low. Even taking the possibility of substantial underreporting into account, only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions of vaccines administered in the U.S. each year result in shoulder injuries related to vaccination errors. Even so, this is not a risk that can be ignored—and vaccine recipients who have concerns about SIRVA should seek to obtain an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.

How Do You Identify SIRVA (as Opposed to a Non-Vaccine-Related Shoulder Injury)?

With all of this in mind, how do you identify a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)?

Timing is a key factor. There are several forms of SIRVA—including adhesive capsulitis, brachial neuritis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder bursitis and tendonitis—and none of these are strictly vaccine-related injuries. As a result, diagnosing a shoulder injury as SIRVA (as opposed to a non-vaccine-related shoulder injury) requires knowledge of when the injury occurred in relation to when the patient received an immunization.

Under the VICP, a shoulder injury is presumed to be vaccine-related if the patient’s symptoms onset within 48 hours of an injection. This includes (but is not limited to) common symptoms such as:

  • Severe shoulder pain (which may be sharp or stabbing)
  • Pain that radiates away from the shoulder
  • Muscle weakness
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Swelling, tenderness and redness
  • Skin that is warm to the touch
  • Popping or cracking sounds with shoulder movement

Of course, while a shoulder injury is presumed to be vaccine-related for legal purposes if symptoms onset within 48 hours, if there are intervening factors (i.e., if a vaccine recipient gets in a car accident within 48 hours of receiving an immunization), then these intervening factors require due consideration. Not only is this important for making informed decisions about asserting the vaccine recipient’s legal rights, but it is important for ensuring that the individual receives an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment as well.

Do You Have a VICP Claim for SIRVA?

With all of this in mind, what should you do if you have concerns about a possible vaccine-related shoulder injury? How can you protect your legal rights, and how do you file a VICP claim for SIRVA (if warranted)?

In this situation, there are a handful of steps you should try to take promptly:

1. Avoid Making Any Assumptions

Given that SIRVA are potentially much more common than the data suggest, it is critical to avoid making any assumptions. If you are experiencing shoulder pain following a vaccination, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

2. Tell Your Doctor About Your Recent Vaccination

When you seek medical attention, be sure to tell your doctor about your vaccination. Do not assume that your doctor will review your vaccination history and take this into account when providing a diagnosis. In this scenario, it is important to be your own advocate—and this includes making sure your doctor has as much information as possible.

3. Seek a Second Opinion if Necessary

If you have concerns about your diagnosis (or, if you do not receive a diagnosis), you should not hesitate to seek a second opinion. Unfortunately, diagnostic errors are extremely common. Likewise, if your symptoms change or worsen, you should discuss this promptly with a doctor as well.

4. Collect Your Vaccination and Medical Records

If you have a VICP claim, you will need proof of your vaccination and your SIRVA diagnosis. With this in mind, you should do your best to keep track of your vaccination and medical records—including your bills, statements and receipts.

5. Talk to a Vaccine Injury Attorney About Your VICP Claim

Finally, to make an informed decision about filing a VICP claim, you will need to talk to an experienced vaccine injury attorney. If you believe that you may have a claim for SIRVA, we recommend scheduling a free consultation as soon as possible.

Talk to a Vaccine Injury Attorney About Your SIRVA VICP Claim for Free

Do you have questions about filing a VICP claim for SIRVA? If so, we invite you to get in touch. To speak with an experienced vaccine injury attorney in confidence, call 202-775-9200 or request a free consultation online today.