Is a flu shot covered by the VICP?

Seasonal influenza vaccines are included in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, usually called the VICP. The program can apply to adults as well as children.

A covered vaccine is only the starting point. A particular claim must meet the program’s medical and legal requirements, including applicable filing deadlines. This page cannot determine whether your symptoms were caused by a vaccine or whether you qualify.

Shoulder pain after a flu shot

Pain that persists, reduced movement, or difficulty using the arm may prompt questions about a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). A medical professional should evaluate your symptoms; an online guide cannot diagnose the cause.

For a legal review, the office may need the vaccination date, which arm received the shot, when symptoms began, any prior shoulder problems, and the treatment you received.

Read the shoulder-injury guide

What if the concern is not shoulder pain?

Describe the symptoms or diagnosis you were given and how the condition affected you. If you do not know the diagnosis or the precise vaccination date, explain that uncertainty.

An event occurring after vaccination does not, by itself, prove that the vaccine caused it. Vaccination records, medical records, and the relevant legal standards help inform the review.

What to include in an initial inquiry

Use a brief description. Do not upload or send medical records through an initial contact form. The office can discuss appropriate next steps and how to provide records if needed.

  • The vaccine name or brand, if you know it.
  • The approximate vaccination date and when symptoms began.
  • A short account of what changed and any diagnosis you were told.
  • Whether you are contacting the office for yourself or someone else.

Sources & references

Program information checked against the official sources below on September 21, 2026.

General information, not legal or medical advice. Symptoms after vaccination do not by themselves establish causation or eligibility. Contacting the office does not file a claim or extend a deadline.