Vanjura v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 16-1588

Petitioner William Vanjura filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on November 30, 2016, alleging that a December 23, 2013 influenza vaccination caused or significantly aggravated Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Petitioner alleged he experienced residual effects of the injury for more than six months.
On June 15, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation proposing an award to Petitioner.
Respondent expressly denied that Petitioner sustained a Table GBS injury within the Table timeframe and denied that the flu vaccine caused or significantly aggravated Petitioner’s GBS, but nonetheless joined the stipulation resolving the claim.
Special Master Herbrina D. Sanders found the stipulation reasonable, adopted it as the Court’s decision, and approved the agreed compensation.
The parties stipulated Petitioner shall receive a lump sum of $105,000.00 in full satisfaction of available damages under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a); the Clerk shall enter judgment absent a timely motion for review.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Did the flu vaccine cause or significantly aggravate Petitioner’s GBS?	Vanjura alleged the Dec. 23, 2013 flu vaccine caused or aggravated his GBS.	Respondent denied causation and denied a Table injury within the Table timeframe.	Parties stipulated to compensation; Special Master adopted stipulation. The decision does not make an explicit adjudicative finding of causation.
Is Petitioner entitled to compensation for residual effects lasting >6 months?	Vanjura asserted residual effects exceeded six months, supporting entitlement.	Respondent disputed causation but agreed to settle, not litigate residuals.	Stipulation awards $105,000 for all damages under §300aa-15(a), resolving the residual-effects claim.
Can the parties resolve the dispute by joint stipulation despite respondent’s denials?	Petitioner sought resolution via stipulation and award.	Respondent maintained denial of causation but agreed to settlement.	Court accepted the stipulation as reasonable and awarded damages per its terms.
Will judgment be entered immediately?	Petitioner renounced review to expedite entry.	Respondent joined in renouncing review.	Clerk will enter judgment consistent with the stipulation absent a timely motion for review.

No judicial opinions with official reporter citations are cited in this decision.