NIH Clinic: Board Chair Says Kennedy Addition Costs Nothing

Jack Leslie, chair of the board overseeing the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital, issued a warning on October 23 regarding the new vaccine injury clinic established by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Leslie stated that the addition could damage the institution's standing. He made these remarks during a regularly scheduled board meeting.

Leslie began the session with friendly introductions before setting the agenda aside for about six minutes. He delivered a pointed rebuke of Kennedy, cautioning that the secretary's anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the hospital. The facility is often called the "house of hope" because it serves patients with rare conditions or those who have exhausted other options.

The criticism focused on Kennedy's surprise appearance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the clinic. The event featured a panel of individuals who said they were hurt by vaccines. They sat behind placards reading "vaccine injured" and spoke with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials. Leslie acknowledged that some might prefer he not criticize Kennedy's efforts, but he said staying quiet would be a failing for the advisory board.

Leslie clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry into vaccine harms. He said he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. "Serious reactions are rare, but real," he said, adding that people who believe they have been injured should "be taken seriously."

The clinic represents a modest addition rather than a major departure. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries. Kennedy's new clinic comes with no additional funding and no extra clinic space. Jonathan Green, the hospital's CEO, supported this account during the meeting. Green noted that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades and that the work is continuing. He described the new clinic as just one more individual "protocol" at the hospital.

The remarks from Leslie and Green highlight a gap between the high-profile launch and the clinic's practical footing. Leslie framed the issue as a matter of reputation for a hospital that serves vulnerable patients. Green presented the clinic as a modest addition to existing research. The board's warning stands as a formal check on the symbolic weight of the new facility.