Hospital board chair questions value of new vaccine clinic

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital serves patients with rare conditions and those who have exhausted other medical options. During a recent board meeting, the hospital's chair warned that a new vaccine injury clinic could affect the institution's standing.

Jack Leslie, the board chair, delivered a six-minute address at the start of the session. He set aside the usual agenda to critique Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Leslie said that remaining silent on Kennedy's anti-vaccine activities would be a failing for the advisory group.

The criticism followed a surprise ribbon-cutting ceremony at the hospital. Kennedy opened his signature vaccine injury clinic in front of a panel of individuals who said they were hurt by vaccines. These patients sat behind placards labeled "vaccine injured" and spoke with Kennedy and other senior administration officials.

Leslie clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry. He stated that serious vaccine reactions are rare but real, and that people who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously. He emphasized that the board supports studying potential injuries.

The new clinic does not change the hospital's budget or physical footprint. Leslie noted that the facility comes with no additional funding and no extra clinic space. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries.

Jonathan Green, the hospital's CEO, spoke next to support Leslie's account. Green said the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades. He described the new clinic as one more individual protocol within the hospital's existing research framework.

The remarks from both leaders highlight a difference between the public launch and the clinic's practical role. Leslie focused on the reputation of a hospital that serves vulnerable patients. Green presented the clinic as a modest addition to ongoing work.