Editing Human chorionic gonadotropin (section)

==Tetanus vaccine conspiracy theory==
Catholic Bishops in Kenya<ref name="WaPo-Kenya">{{Cite news | vauthors = Ohlheiser A |title=The tense standoff between Catholic bishops and the Kenyan government over tetanus vaccines |language=en |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/14/the-tense-standoff-between-catholic-bishops-and-the-kenyan-government-over-tetanus-vaccines/ |access-date=2020-06-04}}</ref> are among those who have spread a [[conspiracy theory]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Tetanus Vaccine Spiked with Sterilization Chemicals? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tetanus-vaccine-sterilization/ |access-date=2020-06-04 |website=Snopes.com |date=10 November 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref> asserting that HCG forms part of a covert sterilization program, forcing denials from the Kenyan government.<ref name="WaPo-Kenya" />

In order to induce a stronger immune response, some versions of human chorionic gonadotropin-based anti-fertility vaccines were designed as [[conjugate vaccine|conjugates]] of the β subunit of HCG covalently linked to [[tetanus toxoid]].<ref name="Talwar_2015"/><ref name="pmid9459276">{{cite journal | vauthors = Talwar GP | title = Fertility regulating and immunotherapeutic vaccines reaching human trials stage | journal = Human Reproduction Update | volume = 3 | issue = 4 | pages = 301–310 | year = 1997 | pmid = 9459276 | doi = 10.1093/humupd/3.4.301 | doi-access = free }}</ref> It was alleged that a non-conjugated [[tetanus vaccine]] used in developing countries was laced with a human chorionic gonadotropin-based anti-fertility drug and was distributed as a means of [[Compulsory sterilization|mass sterilization]].<ref name="pmid12346214">{{cite journal | vauthors =  | title = Tetanus vaccine may be laced with anti-fertility drug. International / developing countries | journal = Vaccine Weekly | pages = 9–10 | year = 1995 | pmid = 12346214 }}</ref>  This charge has been vigorously denied by the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) and [[UNICEF]].<ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Griffin B | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/global/who-unicef-deny-kenyan-bishops-claim-they-supplied-sterility-causing-tetanus-vaccines | title = WHO, UNICEF deny Kenyan bishops' claim that they supplied sterility-causing tetanus vaccines | date = 9 March 2015 | work = National Catholic Reporter | access-date = 18 July 2016 | archive-date = 15 August 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160815182706/https://www.ncronline.org/news/global/who-unicef-deny-kenyan-bishops-claim-they-supplied-sterility-causing-tetanus-vaccines | url-status = dead }}</ref>  Others have argued that an hCG-laced vaccine could not possibly be used for sterilization, since the effects of the anti-fertility vaccines are reversible (requiring [[booster dose]]s to maintain infertility) and a non-conjugated vaccine is likely to be ineffective.<ref name = "Gorski_2014">{{cite web | vauthors = Gorski D | url = https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/fear-mongering-about-vaccines-as-racist-population-control-in-kenya/ | title = Fear mongering about vaccines as "racist population control" in Kenya | work = Science-Based Medicine | date = 15 November 2014 }}</ref> Finally, independent testing of the tetanus vaccine by Kenya's health authorities revealed no traces of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone.<ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Shiundu A | url = http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/article/2000140459/health-officials-want-to-punish-doctor-in-tetanus-vaccine-dispute | title = Health officials want to punish doctor in tetanus vaccine dispute | work = Standard Digital | date = 5 November 2014 }}</ref>