Vaccine Injury Table | My Vaccine Lawyer

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What is the 'Vaccine Injury Table'?

Fighting for Vaccine Injury Victims – Get the Compensation You Deserve

Health resources and legal precedent shape how your vaccine injury is evaluated through the federal injury table. The Vaccine Injury Table is a critical part of the vaccine injury compensation program, used by the court of federal claims to evaluate whether certain vaccine related injuries are eligible for payment. It lists specific covered vaccines, including seasonal influenza vaccines, meningococcal vaccines, and herpes zoster, and links each one to known associated injuries like SIRVA, vasovagal syncope, or brachial neuritis. If your condition appears on the table with the correct time period between vaccine administration and first symptom, your claim is more likely to succeed. This process is used in place of a traditional federal court trial and avoids the burden of proving fault.

Maintained by the Health Resources and Services Administration under Human Services, the table is based on clinical data, injury trends, and findings from disease control experts. It simplifies the process for vaccine recipients and legal representatives by clearly linking vaccines to outcomes that are presumed to be caused by the vaccine injection itself. These presumptions apply only to injuries that follow routine administration and fall under the table’s specific conditions. The table also plays a central role in the national vaccine injury compensation system, helping adults, children, and the general public receive fair financial recovery without having to prove negligence. If your injury isn’t on the table, the system still allows for claims—but with stricter evidence and medical documentation requirements.

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Hear Cheryl's Vaccine Injury Story

Cheryl, a former client of My Vaccine Lawyer, shares her experience with Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) following a flu shot. She describes the sudden onset of pain, limited shoulder mobility, and a long recovery process that led her to seek legal help from attorney Max Muller.

With his support, Cheryl filed a successful claim through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and received a settlement covering her medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. SIRVA symptoms typically include sudden pain within 48 hours of vaccination, restricted range of motion, and discomfort that can last for weeks or months.

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How the Vaccine Injury Table Works Inside the VICP

The injury table is a legal framework, not a medical guideline. It was established through the Federal Register as part of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and is enforced by the court of federal claims under the Department of Health and Human Services. When a listed injury occurs after the routine administration of a covered vaccine, and within the specified time period, the law assumes the vaccine caused the condition. That assumption shifts the burden away from the injured party and allows faster decisions by the special master. The table exists to simplify federal claims and streamline outcomes for vaccine recipients without requiring evidence of fault or medical malpractice. It also prevents excessive litigation that could threaten vaccine supply, while still compensating those harmed.

Covered Vaccines That Speed Up Compensation

If your reaction matches a table injury, your case is more likely to succeed quickly. The most commonly listed injuries include SIRVA and brachial neuritis after seasonal influenza vaccines, vasovagal syncope after meningococcal vaccines, and anaphylaxis after the MMR vaccine. Each of these injuries has a required time frame for first symptom onset, such as within 48 hours or up to 42 days. These timelines are tied to the vaccine administration date and must be confirmed with medical records from health care providers. When these requirements are met, the VICP presumes the injury related to vaccine exposure is valid, and the case moves forward without additional causation evidence. These are the most straightforward claims to resolve.

Off-Table Claims and What They Require

Injuries not included on the vaccine injury table are called off-table claims, and they require strong medical and legal support. These include less common outcomes like complex regional pain syndrome, CIDP, or delayed-onset neuropathies not yet listed. For these cases, the burden falls entirely on the petitioner to prove the injury was related to vaccine administration. You’ll need expert reports, scientific research, VAERS data, and testimony from physicians to establish causation. Some injuries are also filed under significant aggravation, where a vaccine worsened a pre-existing condition. These cases often take longer, but they still succeed when built on solid evidence. The Vaccine Act allows full compensation if the injury is proven to be vaccine caused, even if it’s not yet listed on the table.

How the Table Gets Updated by Federal Agencies

The injury table is not static. It changes as new data emerges from surveillance, research, and filed claims. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, the Services Administration, and the World Health Organization monitor reports of adverse reactions, track public health trends, and review medical findings to recommend updates. For example, SIRVA was added in 2017 after hundreds of claims filed involving shoulder injury from improper injection technique. Updates consider the safety of pregnant women, children, and the general public, often based on research into newly administered or recommended vaccines. Changes are published in the Federal Register, and new injuries or timing changes can shift a claim from off-table to on-table. This system is designed to reflect the real-world outcomes of vaccination while still protecting the long-term goals of disease control and prevention.

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Max is a founding Partner of My Vaccine Lawyer and has been a Super Lawyer for 11 years straight.

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Paul is a founding Partner at My Vaccine Lawyer and has been featured in the Washington Post and CBS News for his accomplishments.

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How the Table Affects Compensation Outcomes

Whether your injury is listed on the vaccine injury table can significantly change how much you’re awarded and how fast. In 2023, more than 70% of on-table claims resulted in compensation, compared to fewer than 30% of off-table claims, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. The difference comes down to legal presumption. If your symptoms meet the table requirements for a covered vaccine, like SIRVA after influenza vaccination or brachial neuritis after TDaP, the government presumes the vaccine caused the injury. This removes the need to prove causation and speeds up the timeline for receiving payment. In death cases, the vaccine injury compensation program (VICP) automatically awards $250,000 if the death meets the time and symptom conditions on the table.

Even with a table injury, the special master still reviews evidence before approving payment. Medical records, proof of first symptom, and evidence of proper vaccine administration must all be submitted. Compensation amounts vary depending on the injury. For example, SIRVA injuries that cause long-term loss of function have resulted in settlements between $75,000 and $200,000, depending on treatment and residual damage. On-table claims are also less likely to be dismissed on procedural grounds, and payment is typically disbursed within 12 months of a favorable ruling.

Legal Support for Injury Table Claims

Lawyers who focus on the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program gather medical records, physician letters, and timestamped treatment notes to prove that the injury falls within the listed time period and meets all other criteria. If the petitioner is a minor, incapacitated, or deceased, legal representatives are permitted to file on their behalf, and awards are issued through court-managed financial arrangements. Importantly, attorneys fees are paid separately by the fund and do not come out of your compensation. There is no cost to file or to retain experienced counsel if the claim is filed in good faith with a reasonable basis.

For off-table claims, legal strategy is even more important. Lawyers must present expert witness reports, supporting medical literature, and proof of significant aggravation or a plausible biological mechanism. This is where experienced attorneys bridge the gap between medicine and law. The VICP has awarded millions in compensation for injuries not listed on the table when supported by credible data. Our attorneys also know how to present nuanced claims involving pregnant women, long-delayed onset, or complex neurologic injuries. They know what the special master needs to see and how to prove it, even without table presumption. With the right legal support, the system works as it was designed: to compensate real victims with real injuries, without dragging you through unnecessary trials.

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The Legal Process for Vaccine Injury Cases

Vaccine injury cases follow a unique legal process. Since these claims are handled under the VICP, they require an attorney with experience in federal vaccine litigation. At My Vaccine Lawyer, we start with a free consultation to assess your claim. We then gather medical records, expert testimony, and supporting evidence to build a strong case. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we are prepared to take your case to trial.

1. Contact Your Doctor

If you suffered a vaccine-related injury, adverse effects or worsening symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

2. Call My Vaccine Lawyer

For a free consultation. We are licensed to practice in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Still Have Questions?

Who updates the vaccine injury table, and how does the Services Administration fit in?
What does Human Services consider a table injury?
Can I file under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program for conditions like shingles or vaccine-triggered death?
What is a vaccine antigen, and does it affect whether my vaccine is covered?
Why is SIRVA one of the most commonly compensated vaccine injuries?

Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is one of the most frequently compensated injuries because it’s well-documented, easily diagnosed, and tied directly to vaccine injection technique — not the contents of the vaccine itself. It occurs most often after flu shots but is seen with others too. Most SIRVA claims under the table result in compensation, and the fund pays from the per-dose excise tax collected from vaccine manufacturers.