NIH Board Chair Flags Zero New Funds for Kennedy Vaccine Clinic

Zero dollars in new funding support the vaccine injury clinic that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently opened at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital. Jack Leslie, the chair of the hospital’s board of directors, delivered this warning during a regularly scheduled meeting earlier this month. He told colleagues that the clinic’s launch could damage the institution’s standing.

Leslie described the facility as the "house of hope," a nickname reflecting its role as a final destination for patients with rare conditions or those who have exhausted other options. He argued that the hospital’s reputation is fragile because it serves some of the most vulnerable people in the medical system.

The tension stems from a surprise event held at the hospital. Kennedy appeared at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the clinic’s opening. A panel of individuals who claim to have been injured by vaccines sat behind placards reading "vaccine injured." They spoke with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials during the gathering.

Leslie said he delivered a pointed rebuke to the secretary for about six minutes. He noted that some people might prefer the board remain quiet about the political figure’s activities. However, he argued that silence would constitute a failure of the advisory group’s duties. "But I think that that would be a failing as an advisory board if we were silent," he said.

The chair clarified that his objection is not to scientific inquiry. Leslie stated he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. He added that "serious reactions are rare, but real," and that people who believe they have been injured should "be taken seriously."

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" at the hospital. Green noted that the NIH already maintains a center that studies vaccine injuries.

The remarks from both leaders highlight a disconnect between the public ceremony and the clinic’s practical footing. The new space comes with no additional budget and no extra clinic space. Green’s description presented the initiative as a modest addition to existing research, while Leslie framed the issue as a potential risk to the hospital’s long-standing reputation.