NIH Board Chair Cites $0 in New Funds for Kennedy Clinic
Jack Leslie warned that the surprise launch of a vaccine injury clinic at the NIH Clinical Center risks the hospital's reputation despite carrying no additional budget.
By Marcus Johnson ·
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Research Hospital now faces a new internal debate over the financial and reputational footing of a newly opened vaccine injury clinic. The clinic was established by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and debuted with a public ceremony, yet it operates without any new money or dedicated space allocated to it.
Jack Leslie, the chair of the hospital’s oversight board, delivered a six-minute address during a recent regularly scheduled meeting. He stated that the clinic adds zero incremental budget to the institution. Leslie also noted that the facility does not include extra clinic space, meaning the new service is being absorbed into existing operations without additional resources.
Leslie’s remarks followed a surprise ribbon-cutting event where Kennedy appeared. The ceremony featured a panel of individuals who described themselves as vaccine injured. They sat behind placards with that label and spoke alongside Kennedy and other senior Trump administration officials. Leslie said the high-profile nature of the launch stands in contrast to the clinic’s modest operational reality.
The board chair emphasized that his objection is not to the scientific study of vaccine harms. He affirmed that serious reactions are rare but real and that patients who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously. Leslie argued, however, that the advisory board would be failing in its duty if it remained silent about the potential impact on the hospital’s standing.
The hospital is often called the house of hope because it serves patients with rare conditions who have exhausted other treatment options. Leslie warned that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine activities could tarnish this specific reputation. He suggested that while some might prefer the board not criticize the secretary, silence would be incorrect for the group.
Jonathan Green, the hospital’s CEO, supported Leslie’s account during the same session. Green stated that the NIH has researched vaccine safety and efficacy for decades and that this work continues. He described the new clinic as just one more individual protocol within the hospital’s existing research framework.
Green’s description positions the clinic as a modest addition to ongoing studies rather than a major new initiative. Leslie framed the issue primarily as one of reputation for a facility that serves vulnerable patients. Both officials agreed on the lack of new funding, creating a clear distinction between the public ceremony and the clinic’s practical budget.
Source: Ars Technica
