Merck vaccine Capvaxive enters Ontario public coverage

Merck announced on September 28, 2026, that the Canadian province of Ontario has added its pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Capvaxive, to its publicly funded adult immunization program. The decision expands access to the shot for eligible older adults across the province.

Health Canada approved Capvaxive for adults aged 18 and older to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease caused by 21 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. The condition leads to severe illnesses such as sepsis, meningitis, and bacteremic pneumonia, with approximately 3,000 cases reported across Canada each year.

Surveillance data from the Public Health Agency of Canada from 2019 to 2023 showed that the serotypes covered by Capvaxive accounted for approximately 65% of invasive pneumococcal disease cases in adults aged 18 to 49. They also represented roughly 74% of cases in individuals aged 50 to 64, and around 80% of cases in adults aged 65 and older.

Matthew Thornhill, Executive Director of the Vaccines and HIV Business Unit at Merck Canada, stated that expanding access through a publicly funded program helps protect older adults as immunization strategies respond to evolving public health needs.