Rumor – Kenya is withdrawing from the WHO because it discovered that the tetanus vaccine was combined with a sterilizing agent.
Analysis
A video has been circulating on social media along with alarming messages claiming that Kenya is leaving the World Health Organization (WHO) after supposedly discovering that the tetanus vaccine administered in the country contained a sterilizing agent. According to the messages, the decision would be a direct response to the alleged discovery.
The content gained traction by using the statements of a man presented as a Kenyan health authority. “Kenya is withdrawing from the WHO because it discovered that the tetanus vaccine was combined with a sterilizing agent,” says the video description that circulates online (and which we will not display here).
Fact-check
The story went viral in 2025, but the claim had already been debunked by international organizations years ago. In this fact-check, we’ll address three main questions raised by the narrative: 1) Did Kenya leave the WHO over the vaccine? 2) Does the video show an actual Kenyan authority? 3) Is there evidence that the tetanus vaccine causes sterility?
Did Kenya leave the WHO over tetanus vaccine with sterilizing agent?
No. Kenya is still a member of the World Health Organization. First, the claim that tetanus vaccines contain sterilizing agents has been debunked in the past. Additionally, the person in the video has no authority to determine Kenya’s withdrawal from the WHO. We’ll explore these two issues in more detail below.
Does the video show an actual Kenyan authority?
No. Although the man in the video is introduced as someone linked to the Kenyan government, he holds no official position. He is a doctor known for spreading misinformation about vaccines and public health, as pointed out in this AFP fact-check.
Is there evidence that the tetanus vaccine causes sterility?
No. No serious study has confirmed this claim. The sterilization narrative surrounding tetanus vaccines was debunked in 2014, as shown in official documents from the WHO and UNICEF. The vaccine continues to be safely used in many countries, including Kenya, without any evidence of fertility issues. Here’s what was said at the time:
Statement from WHO and UNICEF on the Tetanus Vaccine in Kenya The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) express their deep concern about the misinformation circulating in the media on the quality of the Tetanus Toxoid (TT) Vaccine in Kenya.
The allegations are that the tetanus vaccine used by the Government of Kenya and UN agencies is contaminated with a hormone (hCG) that can cause miscarriages and render some women sterile. These grave allegations are not backed up by evidence, and risk negatively impacting national immunisation programmes for children and women. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta, during pregnancy. hCG is also produced in the pituitary glands of males and females of all ages. However, very high levels pose risks to pregnancy.
We have taken note of test results claiming to show levels of hCG in samples submitted to some clinical laboratories. However, it is important to note that testing for the content of a medicine, e.g TT Vaccine needs to be done in a suitable laboratory, and from a sample of the actual medicine/vaccine obtained from an unopened pack and not a blood sample. Furthermore, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board – the legally mandated National Regulatory Authority has the capacity and mandate to determine the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and to advise the Government accordingly. WHO and UNICEF confirm that the vaccines are safe and are procured from a pre-qualified manufacturer. This safety is assured through a three-pronged global testing system and the vaccine has reached more than 130 million women with at least two doses in 52 countries.
Given most tetanus cases in Kenya are among newborns, the target group of Kenya’s TT vaccination campaigns is girls and women (15-49 years), with a particular emphasis on those in the most marginalized areas. We note with concern that Kenya is one of the 25 countries where tetanus is still a public health problem, killing hundreds of newborns every year. WHO and UNICEF reiterates our readiness to support the Government of Kenya in its efforts to provide safe and quality assured vaccines for the immunization programmes.
Conclusion
The claim that Kenya is leaving the WHO over a sterilizing agent in tetanus vaccines is completely false. Kenya remains a WHO member, there’s no evidence that the vaccine causes sterility, and the video cited as “proof” features someone with no official ties.
Fake news ❌
Ps: This article is a suggestion from Boatos.org readers. If you’d like to suggest a topic, contact us via [email protected] or WhatsApp: https://wa.me/556192755610