SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration) following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: Case discussion and literature review

•COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered worldwide in large-scale vaccination programs.•Inappropriate administration of vaccine material into subdeltoid bursa or shoulder joint can lead to SIRVA.•SIRVA can result in significant shoulder pain and dysfunction post-vaccination.•We present a unique case of massive shoulder effusion after COVID-19 vaccination.•SIRVA is potentially preventable with proper vaccination techniques. Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is an increasingly recognised complication after vaccination and presents with significant shoulder pain and stiffness. SIRVA is thought to occur as a result of improper administration of vaccine into the subdeltoid bursa or shoulder joint. This results in an inflammatory cascade that damages the structures in the shoulder region. The incidence of SIRVA is relatively higher for influenza vaccination due its widespread administration. We present a reported case of SIRVA following a mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and review the current literature. As we embark on a worldwide scale of COVID-19 vaccination, it is of utmost important that we use proper vaccination techniques and screen patients at risk of SIRVA. This would improve the efficacy of the vaccine and improve the outcomes of the vaccination programme.