NIH leader says new vaccine clinic adds no money or space
Board chair Jack Leslie told the hospital’s governing body that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new clinic lacks incremental funding and risks the institution’s reputation.
By Fatima Zayed ·
Jack Leslie, chair of the board overseeing the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital, stated that a new vaccine injury clinic opened by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not bring any new funding to the institution. Leslie made the announcement during a regularly scheduled board meeting. He noted that the clinic also does not utilize additional clinic space.
The board chair spent approximately six minutes criticizing Kennedy’s recent actions. He described the secretary’s surprise appearance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony as a pointed event. At that ceremony, Kennedy opened his signature vaccine injury clinic. A panel of individuals who reported being hurt by vaccines sat behind placards reading "vaccine injured" and spoke with Kennedy and other senior administration officials.
Leslie acknowledged that some board members might prefer he avoid criticizing Kennedy. However, he argued that silence would be a failure of the advisory board’s duty. "But I think that that would be a failing as an advisory board if we were silent," Leslie said. He cautioned that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the hospital’s standing. The institution is often called the "house of hope" because it serves patients with rare conditions or those who have exhausted other treatment options.
Jonathan Green, the hospital’s chief executive officer, sat next to Leslie and supported the board chair’s account. Green stated that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades. He described the new clinic as just one more individual protocol within the hospital’s existing operations. Green added that the research work continues as it has for many years.
Leslie clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry. He said he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. "Serious reactions are rare, but real," Leslie said. He added that people who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries, meaning the new clinic operates within existing structures rather than creating new ones.
The remarks from both leaders highlight the practical footing of the new clinic. Leslie framed the issue around the reputation of a hospital serving vulnerable patients. Green presented the clinic as a modest addition to ongoing research. The board received these details during a session that began with friendly introductions before turning to the agenda.
Source: Ars Technica
