NIH Board Chair: Vaccine Clinic Launch Raises Reputation Concerns

Jack Leslie, chair of the board overseeing the NIH Clinical Center Research Hospital, warned that a new vaccine injury clinic could damage the institution's reputation.

During a recently scheduled board meeting, Leslie spent approximately six minutes criticizing the recent launch of the clinic. The facility was opened by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a surprise ribbon-cutting event. The ceremony featured a panel of individuals who described themselves as vaccine injured. These speakers sat behind placards identifying their status while engaging with Kennedy and other senior administration officials. Leslie noted that the hospital is often referred to as a "house of hope," a nickname reflecting its role in treating patients with rare conditions or those who have exhausted other medical options.

Leslie stated that remaining silent on the matter would be a failure for the advisory group. He clarified that his criticism was not directed at the scientific study of vaccine harms. He emphasized that serious reactions are rare but real and that patients who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously. The board chair acknowledged that some might prefer he avoid criticizing Kennedy's efforts, yet he maintained that the board had a duty to speak up.

Jonathan Green, the hospital's chief executive officer, supported Leslie's account from the meeting. Green noted that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades and that this work continues. He described the new clinic as just one additional protocol within the hospital's existing operations. Green highlighted that the NIH already maintains a center dedicated to studying vaccine injuries.

The new clinic does not come with additional funding or extra clinic space. This lack of new resources suggests the facility is a modest addition to existing research structures. Green's description frames the clinic as a small part of the hospital's long-standing research agenda, while Leslie focused on the potential impact of the high-profile launch on the hospital's public image.

The board's next regularly scheduled meeting is not yet announced in the available records.