NIH hospital board chair warns RFK Jr.'s vaccine injury clinic could tarnish research hospital

Board chair says remaining silent would be a 'failing' of the advisory board

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The chair of the board overseeing the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center has publicly rebuked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warning that his anti-vaccine activities could damage the reputation of the research hospital often called the 'house of hope' for patients with rare conditions.

At a recent meeting of the board that oversees the NIH Clinical Center Research Hospital, chair Jack Leslie diverted from the regular agenda to deliver a pointed criticism of Kennedy, spending about six minutes on the matter. Leslie took issue with a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for Kennedy's signature vaccine injury clinic, which included a surprise appearance by the health secretary and a panel of people claiming to have been injured by vaccines.

Leslie said the ceremony featured people seated behind placards reading "vaccine injured" who spoke with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials. He prefaced his remarks by acknowledging that some might prefer he not speak out against Kennedy's efforts, but said that "would be a failing as an advisory board if we were silent."

Leslie also made clear that he has no concerns about studying potential injuries from vaccines. "Serious reactions are rare, but real," he said, adding that people who believe they have been injured should "be taken seriously." The board chair's warning suggests tensions between the advisory board and the health secretary over how the clinic is presented and what it could mean for the hospital's standing.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The NIH Clinical Center cares for patients with rare and hard-to-treat conditions, so a public confrontation over vaccine policy at the hospital could affect patient trust and its research mission.
The clinic is a signature Kennedy initiative, and its opening inside a top government hospital signals how vaccine injury claims are being institutionalized at the federal level.
The board chair's public rebuke shows friction between an advisory body and a Cabinet secretary, a rare open challenge inside the Trump administration.

Background

The NIH Clinical Center is the research hospital of the National Institutes of Health, known for treating patients with rare diseases and those who have exhausted standard options. Kennedy, who leads the Department of Health and Human Services, has long been publicly associated with questioning vaccine safety. The recent ribbon-cutting opened his vaccine injury clinic at the hospital, with people claiming vaccine injuries featured prominently in the ceremony.

Key Perspectives

Jack Leslie, board chair: He warned that Kennedy's anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the hospital's reputation. He said the board would be failing if it stayed silent, while stressing that he has no objection to studying rare, real vaccine reactions and taking claimants seriously.

The clinic ceremony: The event was staged as a ribbon-cutting with a surprise appearance by Kennedy and a panel of self-described vaccine-injured people seated behind placards. They spoke with Kennedy and other administration officials, presenting the clinic as a response to their concerns.

Critics and skeptics: Leslie's remarks reflect concern that the clinic's framing could be seen as advancing anti-vaccine messaging rather than scientific inquiry, and that this could damage the hospital's credibility among patients and researchers.

What to Watch

Whether the vaccine injury clinic begins accepting patients and how it operates within the hospital.
Any response from Secretary Kennedy or the Department of Health and Human Services to the board chair's comments.
Future board meetings, where the relationship between the hospital and the clinic may continue to be scrutinized.

Sources

RFK Jr.’s vaccine injury clinic could damage NIH hospital, board warns · Ars Technica - All content

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe NIH hospital board chair warns that Kennedy’s vaccine injury clinic could tarnish the research hospital.Ars Technica - All content: “RFK Jr.’s vaccine injury clinic could damage NIH hospital, board warns.”
SupportedThe board chair said silence would be a “failing” of the advisory board.Ars Technica - All content: ““But I think that that would be a failing as an advisory board if we were silent,” he said.”
Partly supportedLeslie publicly rebuked Kennedy over anti-vaccine activities that could damage the hospital’s reputation.Ars Technica - All content: “He spent the next six minutes delivering a pointed rebuke of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, warning that his anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the venerable hospital”
SupportedThe hospital is often called the “house of hope” for patients with rare conditions.Ars Technica - All content: “often called the “house of hope” for patients with rare conditions or those who have exhausted all other options.”
SupportedAt a recent board meeting, Leslie diverted from the regular agenda.Ars Technica - All content: “then diverted from the agenda of the regularly scheduled meeting.”
SupportedLeslie spent about six minutes criticizing Kennedy.Ars Technica - All content: “He spent the next six minutes delivering a pointed rebuke of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy”
SupportedThe clinic’s ribbon-cutting ceremony included Kennedy’s surprise appearance.Ars Technica - All content: “a surprise appearance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open his signature vaccine injury clinic”
SupportedThe ceremony included people claiming vaccine injuries, seated behind “vaccine injured” placards and speaking with Kennedy and other Trump administration officials.Ars Technica - All content: “The ceremony included a panel with people claiming to have been injured by vaccines. They sat behind placards reading “vaccine injured” and spoke with Kennedy and other high-ranking Trump administration officials.”
SupportedLeslie said, “Serious reactions are rare, but real.”Ars Technica - All content: ““Serious reactions are rare, but real,” he said”
Not in the sourcesThe story says the advisory board and Kennedy are in tension over the clinic’s presentation and its implications for the hospital’s standing.Ars Technica - All content: “Leslie ... [delivered] a pointed rebuke of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, warning that his anti-vaccine activities could tarnish the venerable hospital”