CAPVAXIVE® Included in Ontario’s Publicly Funded Adult Pneumococcal Immunization Program
KIRKLAND, QC, September 28, 2026 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, welcomes Ontario’s decision to include CAPVAXIVE® in its publicly funded adult immunization program. This addition helps expand access to pneumococcal immunization for eligible older adults in Ontario.
CAPVAXIVE® is approved by Health Canada for adults 18 years of age and older to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD)—including serious infections like sepsis, meningitis, and bacteremic pneumonia—caused by 21 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.
As pneumococcal disease trends continue to evolve, ongoing surveillance of IPD-causing S. pneumoniae serotypes helps inform public health decision-making and provincial immunization program planning. Canadian surveillance data from 2019 to 2023 showed that the serotypes included in CAPVAXIVE® accounted for ~65% of IPD cases in adults aged 18–49, ~74% of IPD cases in adults aged 50–64, and ~80% of IPD cases in adults aged 65+. These figures were based on surveillance data from the Public Health Agency of Canada and do not reflect the efficacy of CAPVAXIVE®.
“Ontario’s decision reflects the importance of ensuring immunization programs continue to respond to changing public health needs and disease trends,” affirmed Matthew Thornhill, Executive Director, Vaccines & HIV Business Unit, Merck Canada. “Expanding access to pneumococcal vaccination through a publicly funded program can help protect older adults from serious disease.”
Ontarians who have questions about the program or their eligibility are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider, pharmacist or local public health unit for more information.
About Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can lead to a range of illnesses—from mild infections that affect the ears, sinuses and lungs, to more serious conditions called invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), when bacteria enter the bloodstream or the central nervous system. In Canada, approximately 3,000 cases of IPD are reported each year. While anyone can be affected, young children, older adults, and individuals with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe disease.
About CAPVAXIVE®
CAPVAXIVE®, a Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine, is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (including sepsis, meningitis, bacteremic pneumonia, pleural empyema and bacteremia), caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes (3, 6A, 6C, 7F, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15A, 15B, 15C, 16F, 17F, 19A, 20A, 22F, 23A, 23B, 24F, 31, 33F, and 35B) in adults 18 years of age and older.1
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on LinkedIn.
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