NIH chair warns clinic risks hospital name

Jack Leslie, chair of the board overseeing the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital, warned that a new vaccine injury clinic could damage the institution's standing. He made the comments at a recently scheduled board meeting. Leslie spent about six minutes criticizing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his recent activities.

The conflict centers on a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the hospital. Kennedy appeared without notice to open his signature vaccine injury clinic. The event featured a panel of individuals who stated they were hurt by vaccines. These speakers sat behind placards with the words vaccine injured. They discussed their experiences with Kennedy and other senior Trump administration officials.

Leslie said the hospital is often called the house of hope. That nickname reflects its role for patients with rare conditions who have exhausted other options. He argued that the high-profile launch risked tarnishing that reputation. Leslie acknowledged that some might prefer he stay quiet. He said silence would be a failing for the advisory group.

"But I think that that would be a failing as an advisory board if we were silent," Leslie said. He clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry. He stated that he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. He noted that serious reactions are rare but real. People who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously, he added.

Jonathan Green, the hospital's CEO, supported Leslie's account of the clinic's scope. Green said the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades. He described the new clinic as just one more individual protocol at the hospital. He noted that the work is continuing as before.

The new clinic arrives with no additional funding and no extra clinic space. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries. Green and Leslie both emphasized that the new initiative does not add resources to the institution. The gap between the public ceremony and the practical footing of the clinic remains a point of discussion for the board.