Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is asking a science journal to explain why it removed a vaccine-related study that had reported an increased incidence of sudden infant death. Multiple outlets report that Kennedy wrote to Lawrence H. Lash, editor-in-chief of *Toxicology Reports*, in a June 11, 2026 letter. The correspondence follows the journal’s decision earlier in 2026 to pull a 2021 paper—described as “Vaccines and sudden…”—after editors concluded the study was seriously flawed and could harm patients or pose risks to public health.
Public health advocates and legal or scientific commentators criticize Kennedy’s approach, arguing it could be seen as pressuring or intimidating journal leadership and influencing editorial decisions. Some experts characterize the scrutiny as raising concerns about whether government involvement could affect scientific publishing processes.
The journal’s stated rationale, as reported by outlets, is grounded in editorial review and assessment of the paper’s reliability and potential impact on patient safety.
