How Flu Shots and TDaP Vaccines Can Cause Rotator Cuff Tears and Injuries

Flu and TDaP shots are common causes of SIRVA injuries, including painful rotator cuff tears. Learn how improper vaccine administration causes SIRVA and how Cinelli Adoff LLP can help you seek compensation.

How Vaccines Can Cause SIRVA and Rotator Cuff Injuries

While flu shots and TDaP vaccines are designed for protecting public health, improper administration of these vaccinations can sometimes cause serious shoulder injuries called SIRVA—Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration.

A frequent complication of SIRVA is a rotator cuff injury or tear, which can leave patients with lasting pain, weakness, and limited mobility. At Cinelli Adoff LLP, our attorneys help clients across the country file claims in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) for these injuries.

What Is SIRVA?

SIRVA occurs when a vaccine is injected too high, or too deep, or into the wrong area of the shoulder or sometimes directly into the shoulder joint instead of the deltoid muscle. This improper injection technique can damage the structures of the shoulder, including:

• The rotator cuff tendons
• The bursa (fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint)
• The joint capsule itself

When the rotator cuff is injured, patients may suffer from tears, inflammation, and reduced range of motion—sometimes requiring surgery or long-term physical therapy.

Anatomy of the Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and their tendons, which work together to stabilize the shoulder and allow for a wide range of motion. Here’s a breakdown:

The Four Rotator Cuff Tendons

1. Supraspinatus tendon

• Location: Runs along the top of the shoulder blade (scapula) and attaches to the top of the humeral head.
• Function: Assists in lifting the arm (abduction).
• This is the most commonly injured tendon in SIRVA cases because it lies directly beneath the area where intramuscular deltoid injections are typically given. If the needle is placed too high, the vaccine can be injected into the bursa or supraspinatus tendon.

2. Infraspinatus tendon

• Location: Covers the back of the scapula and attaches to the greater tuberosity of the humerus.
• Function: Helps with external rotation of the shoulder.
• Less commonly injured from vaccine administration, but inflammation can still occur if the shot is placed too posteriorly.

3. Teres minor tendon

• Location: Runs from the lower back of the scapula to the humerus.
• Function: Also assists with external rotation.
• Rarely affected by vaccination, but can become inflamed if the injection is misplaced very low and lateral.

4. Subscapularis tendon

• Location: Covers the front (anterior surface) of the scapula and attaches to the lesser tuberosity of the humerus.
• Function: Aids in internal rotation of the shoulder.
• Unlikely to be affected by vaccination because of its more anterior location, though inflammation is possible if injection is directed too deep and forward.

Why the Supraspinatus Is Most at Risk in SIRVA

• The supraspinatus tendon and the subacromial bursa sit just under the deltoid muscle where vaccines are usually administered.
• If the needle is inserted too high or too deep, instead of entering the muscle, the vaccine is deposited into the tendon or bursa.
• This can trigger a strong inflammatory reaction, leading to tendinitis, bursitis, or even partial/full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff.

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear After a Vaccine

If you received a vaccination and developed shoulder pain that did not go away within 48 hours, you may have sustained a SIRVA injury. Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear caused by vaccination include:

• Persistent pain in the shoulder
• Limited ability to lift or rotate the arm
• Weakness when performing daily tasks
• Clicking or grinding sensations in the joint
• Night pain that interferes with sleep

Treatment and Compensation Options

Rotator cuff injuries may require:

• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy
• Surgical repair in severe cases

Because these injuries are often the result of improper vaccine administration, patients may be eligible for compensation through the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Cinelli Adoff LLP represents clients nationwide in filing these claims, covering medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Why Choose Cinelli Adoff LLP for Your SIRVA Claim?

At Cinelli Adoff LLP, we focus on vaccine injury law. Our attorneys have experience helping individuals who suffered rotator cuff tears, bursitis, and other shoulder injuries after flu shots, TDaP shots, and other vaccinations.

We:

• File and manage claims in the VICP
• Work on a no-cost basis (our fees are paid by the program, not by clients)
• Provide compassionate legal guidance throughout the process

Take Action Today

If you believe you suffered a SIRVA injury or rotator cuff tear from a flu or TDaP vaccination, don’t wait. The law limits the time you have to file a claim.

Call Cinelli Adoff LLP at (716) 815-4722 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.  Let us help you get the compensation you deserve.