NIH Hospital Chief Calls New Vaccine Clinic A Standard Research Protocol
Leadership at the Clinical Center Research Hospital says the clinic adds no new budget or physical space, despite a high-profile opening ceremony.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Jonathan Green, the chief executive of the NIH Clinical Center Research Hospital, characterized the new vaccine injury clinic as a standard research protocol during a recent board meeting. Green stated that the facility does not represent a major operational shift for the institution.
Green sat next to board chair Jack Leslie at the meeting. Leslie opened the session with introductions before delivering a six-minute critique of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Leslie warned that Kennedy's recent activities could damage the reputation of the hospital, a facility often referred to as the house of hope for patients with rare conditions.
The criticism focused on a surprise ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the hospital. Kennedy attended the event alongside other senior Trump administration officials. A panel of individuals who described themselves as vaccine injured sat behind placards during the proceedings. Leslie noted that the ceremony created a high-profile impression that may not match the clinic's actual scale.
Leslie clarified that his objection targets the presentation of the clinic rather than the science. He affirmed that serious vaccine reactions are rare but real. "People who believe they have been injured should be taken seriously," Leslie said. He argued that the board would fail in its advisory role if it remained silent on the matter.
Green provided specific details on the clinic's resources. He confirmed that the clinic operates without additional funding and utilizes no extra clinic space beyond what the NIH already maintains. The hospital has a dedicated center for studying vaccine injuries, and Green described the new clinic as one more individual protocol within that existing framework.
The remarks highlight a distinction between the public launch and the internal operations. Leslie framed the issue as a matter of institutional standing for a hospital serving vulnerable populations. Green countered by emphasizing the continuity of the NIH's decades-long research into vaccine safety and efficacy.
Green said the work continues as usual. The clinic functions as an extension of current research efforts. No new financial allocations were approved for the project. The hospital's leadership maintains that the addition is a modest step in ongoing scientific inquiry.
