Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) takes place when a vaccine is injected too high or too deep, resulting in an injection into the shoulder joint capsule rather than the upper arm muscle.

This improper injection can cause inflammation of the shoulder’s tendons, ligaments, and bursae - which is why this injury is often diagnosed as “bursitis.”

These are the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joint. The resulting inflammation to this area leads to significant pain and restricted movement.

The result is persistent shoulder pain, weakness, and limited range of motion that can interfere with daily life and may take months of treatment and rehabilitation to resolve.

While it can be difficult to pinpoint what causes neurological injuries, SIRVA injuries are often self-evident.

This is because the injured person typically has no shoulder issues, then within hours or days of the vaccination, they begin to experience pain or stiffness exactly where they were vaccinated.

More often than not, such an injury speaks for itself. If anything, it is often the government’s burden to prove that anything but the vaccine could have caused the SIRVA injury.

A SIRVA injury usually feels like sharp, aching, or burning pain deep in the shoulder within hours or days after a vaccination.

The pain doesn’t feel like normal post-shot soreness. Instead, it’s stronger, lasts much longer, and can make it hard to lift or move the arm.

Our SIRVA clients often describe stiffness, weakness, or a “frozen shoulder” sensation, with pain that worsens when reaching overhead, behind the back, or even during sleep.

However your SIRVA pain or stiffness might feel, be sure to seek medical treatment right away, even if it means taking off work. And describe your symptoms in detail when you meet with your provider, or else they might disregard it or forget to mention it in your medical records.

Treatment for SIRVA generally follows standard protocols for musculoskeletal and soft-tissue shoulder injuries.

Some common approaches include:

• Rest and activity modification: Avoiding activities that aggravate the shoulder (lifting, reaching, overhead motion) allows inflammation to calm down.

• Anti-inflammatory medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain relievers can reduce inflammation and manage pain.

• Physical therapy: A core part of recovery. Stretching, strengthening, and range-of-motion exercises help restore mobility, reduce stiffness, and rebuild shoulder function.

• Corticosteroid injections: In more severe or persistent cases, a steroid shot into the shoulder or subacromial space may reduce inflammation more aggressively.

• Surgical intervention: Rare, but in cases where structural damage (like rotator cuff tears or adhesive capsulitis) has occurred, surgery may become necessary.

• Ongoing follow-up: Monitoring for chronic issues, adjusting therapy, or additional interventions if recovery stalls.

Many people recover fully; some may have lingering stiffness, weakness, or limited motion depending on severity and delay in treatment.

Research indicates that SIRVA accounts for more than half of all claims received by the VICP.

Since 2020, over 2,000 SIRVA claims have been filed under the VICP.

Settlements for SIRVA injuries are often in the tens of thousands of dollars, for example between $40,000-$75,000. But they can reach beyond $100,000 as well.

And remember: any settlement that we secure for you is 100% yours. The court pays attorney fees separately, so it will not subtract from your payment.