In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 20-1853V

UNPUBLISHED

MELISSA CAPARRELLI,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: December 29, 2021

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;

Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA)

Jessica Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Mary Eileen Holmes, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On December 15, 2020, Melissa Caparrelli 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (SIRVA) resulting from the adverse effects of a vaccination she received

November 11, 2019. Petition at 1-2, 5. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was 

administered in the United States, her vaccine-related injuries have lasted more than six 

months, and neither she, nor any other party, has ever received compensation in the form 

of an award or settlement for her vaccine-related injuries. Petition at 5. The case was 

assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required 

to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-Government Act 

of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (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. 

2 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 (2012).
2

On December 10, 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. Respondent found that “[P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the

Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”).”

Id. at 5. Specifically, Respondent determined that, “[P]etitioner had no relevant history of 

pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain and reduced range of 

motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; her symptoms 

were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition 

or abnormality was identified to explain her symptoms.” Respondent further agrees that 

the scope of damages to be awarded is limited to Petitioner’s left-sided SIRVA and its

related sequelae only. Id.

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