NIH Board Chair Jack Leslie Criticizes Kennedy Vaccine Clinic
Leslie spent six minutes arguing the new clinic risks the hospital's reputation for rare disease care without adding funding or space.
By Sofia Molina ·
Jack Leslie spoke for six minutes to warn the NIH Clinical Center board about the new vaccine injury clinic.
The board chair, who oversees the hospital known as the "house of hope," delivered a pointed rebuke of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a recent regularly scheduled meeting. Leslie stated that the secretary's anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the institution's standing. He noted that the hospital serves patients with rare conditions and those who have exhausted other treatment options.
Leslie focused his criticism on Kennedy's surprise appearance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event featured a panel of individuals who said they were hurt by vaccines. They sat behind placards reading "vaccine injured" while speaking with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials. Leslie argued that silence from the advisory board would be a failure, even if some preferred he not criticize the secretary's efforts.
The chair clarified that his objection was not to scientific inquiry into vaccine harms. He said he has no concerns about studying potential injuries and added that serious reactions are rare but real. Leslie emphasized that people who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously. He framed the issue as one of reputation for a hospital that serves some of the most vulnerable patients.
The clinic is a modest addition to existing research at the National Institutes of Health. The NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries. Kennedy's new clinic comes with no additional funding and no extra clinic space. Jonathan Green, the hospital's CEO, sat next to Leslie at the meeting to support that account. Green stated that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades and that the work continues. He described the new clinic as just one more individual protocol at the hospital.
Leslie's remarks and Green's description highlight a gap between the high-profile ceremony and the clinic's practical footing. The board chair raised concerns about the institution's image, while the CEO presented the clinic as a standard part of ongoing research. No new budget or physical expansion was attached to the launch. The board accepted the update during the regular session.
Source: Ars Technica
