While some vaccine-related medical conditions result from adverse reactions to vaccines themselves, others result from errors during the vaccine administration process. These include shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). Recent data suggest that SIRVA may be a growing concern, and SIRVA claims currently account for a significant percentage of all claims filed under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Learn more from national vaccine attorney Leah V. Durant:
Why Are Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) a Concern?
Before we discuss why concerns about SIRVA are growing, we first need to talk about why these injuries are a concern at all. In an ideal world, these injuries would not happen. Since SIRVA result from errors during the vaccine administration process, this means that they are 100% preventable.
But, each year hundreds of vaccine recipients file SIRVA claims under the VICP, and this is almost certainly just a small fraction of the vaccine recipients who experience these injuries. Some people never get diagnosed, and some people who get diagnosed are unaware that filing a VICP claim is an option.
So, why is this the case? If SIRVA are preventable, why do these injuries happen?
All vaccines administered via shoulder injection in the United states—including both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous injections—should be administered according to strict protocols. These protocols are specifically designed to prevent SIRVA and other complications. As a result, when SIRVA and other complications happen, this is usually because the pharmacist or healthcare professional administering the vaccine failed to follow the requisite procedures.
These failures can take a variety of different forms. Generally speaking, however, some of the most common causes of SIRVA include:
- Having vaccine recipients roll up their sleeve instead of removing a long-sleeve shirt or jacket;
- Having vaccine recipients pull down their shirt collar to expose their shoulder;
- Inserting the needle at the wrong angle (generally, IM injections should be administered at 90 degrees to the skin while subcutaneous injections should be administered at 45 degrees to the skin);
- Using the wrong-size needle for the patient’s size or body composition; and,
- Failing to properly prepare the vaccine prior to administration or using an improper vaccination technique during immunization.
As you can see, all of these are mistakes that are clearly preventable, and yet they are far too common. This brings us to our next question: If SIRVA are preventable, why do they occur so frequently—and why do they appear to be growing in prevalence?
The short answer is we don’t know—there does not appear to be any definitive research on this topic. However, there are a couple of possibilities that seem particularly likely:
1. Pharmacists, Clinics and Other Healthcare Providers Are Rushing the Vaccine Administration Process
One possibility is that pharmacists, clinics and other healthcare providers are rushing the vaccine administration process. Rushing the process increases the likelihood that vaccine administrators will take shortcuts and make other mistakes. With long lines, long hours and (in many cases) a financial incentive to administer as many vaccines as possible, this would certainly seem to be a valid concern.
2. Pharmacists and Healthcare Providers Are Not Receiving Adequate Training on Vaccine Administration Protocols
Another possibility is that inadequate training is playing a role in the growing risk of SIRVA. As discussed above, following strict vaccine administration protocols is essential for minimizing the risk of shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration. If vaccine administrators aren’t following these protocols—because they aren’t receiving the training they need—this could also explain why the rate of SIRVA is so high.
Being Clear About the Prevalence of Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
To be clear, SIRVA are still extremely rare. While we don’t have exact numbers due to underreporting, of the hundreds of millions of vaccines administered in the United States each year, only an extremely small percentage lead to a diagnosis of SIRVA.
Even so, the rate of occurrence is enough to warrant asking questions. It was also enough to convince the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to add SIRVA to the VICP’s Vaccine Injury Table in 2018.
The Vaccine Injury Table is a list of medical conditions that have known links to common CDC-recommended vaccines. If a medical condition is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, this makes it easier to file a VICP claim for the condition—so being listed as an “on table” injury is a big deal.
As a result, when the DHHS added SIRVA to the Vaccine Injury Table, this was a clear sign that shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration have become a legitimate concern. In the footnotes to the Vaccine Injury Table, the DHHS states:
“[SIRVA] symptoms are thought to occur as a result of unintended injection of vaccine antigen or trauma from the needle into and around the underlying bursa of the shoulder resulting in an inflammatory reaction. SIRVA is caused by an injury to the musculoskeletal structures of the shoulder (e.g. tendons, ligaments, bursae, etc.).”
Given the well-documented concerns about SIRVA, anyone who experienced symptoms of SIRVA following a vaccination should seek medical treatment promptly. Anyone who receives a SIRVA diagnosis should also consult with a vaccine attorney as soon as possible. While individual circumstances vary, compensation awards under the VICP can be substantial—but there are strict timing and other requirements that vaccine recipients need to meet in order to assert their legal rights effectively. An experienced vaccine attorney can provide custom-tailored legal advice and take legal action promptly if necessary.
Request an Appointment with a Vaccine Attorney at the Law Office of Leah V. Durant & Associates
The attorneys at the Law Office of Leah V. Durant & Associates represent vaccine recipients and families in National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) claims nationwide. If you have questions about filing a VICP claim for SIRVA, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. To speak with an experienced vaccine attorney in confidence as soon as possible, please call 202-775-9200 or request a free consultation online today.
Categories: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration or SIRVA
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