Sirva generally is caused by an injection improperly shot too high on the arm, Dr. Atanasoff says. This can injure the musculoskeletal structures of the shoulder, such as tendons, ligaments or bursa, causing sudden shoulder pain.
Ms. Livolsi, 77 years old, of Canonsburg, Pa., says she was in “excruciating pain” after her flu shot. Her doctor told her it couldn’t be related. After doing research she made the connection herself and filed a case with the vaccine court.
“The injury to petitioner’s left shoulder was caused by the administration of her October 3, 2012, flu vaccine,” according to a decision by the court that led to her May award.
Ms. George, the registered nurse, “is entitled to compensation based on a Sirva injury, which she sustained as a result of the flu vaccine administered on September 9, 2010,” the court said.