NIH Board Chair Says Kennedy Vaccine Clinic Brings No New Money
Jack Leslie warned the board that the high-profile launch risks the hospital's reputation for serving rare disease patients.
By Olga Kaur ·
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital serves patients with rare conditions who have exhausted other treatment options. The facility is often called the house of hope. A warning emerged from the board that oversees this institution regarding a new clinic led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Jack Leslie, the board chair, delivered a six-minute rebuke of Kennedy at a recent scheduled meeting. Leslie stated that the secretary’s anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the hospital’s standing. He noted that some might prefer the board remain silent. Leslie argued that silence would be a failing for an advisory board.
The criticism centered on a surprise ribbon-cutting ceremony for Kennedy’s signature vaccine injury clinic. The event featured a panel of individuals who said they were hurt by vaccines. These speakers sat behind placards reading vaccine injured. They spoke with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials.
Leslie clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry. He confirmed he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. He stated that serious reactions are rare but real. He added that people who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously.
Jonathan Green, the hospital’s CEO, supported Leslie’s account from his seat at the meeting. Green explained that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades. He described the new clinic as just one more individual protocol at the hospital. Green noted that this work is continuing.
The clinic operates with no additional funding and no extra clinic space. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries. This means the new addition does not expand the institution’s physical footprint or budget.
Leslie framed the issue as one of reputation for a hospital that serves vulnerable patients. Green’s description presented the clinic as a modest addition to existing research. The remarks from both leaders highlight a gap between the ceremony and the clinic’s practical footing.
Source: Ars Technica
