Ontario Expands Pneumococcal Immunization Program with Merck's CAPVAXIVE

Ontario's publicly funded adult pneumococcal immunization program has been expanded to include CAPVAXIVE^®, a vaccine developed by Merck (NYSE: MRK), also known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada.

This decision is expected to increase access to pneumococcal vaccination for eligible older adults in Ontario, who are at increased risk of severe disease caused by invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).

According to Health Canada's approval, CAPVAXIVE^® is indicated for active immunization against IPD, including sepsis, meningitis, and bacteremic pneumonia, in adults 18 years of age and older.

The vaccine protects against 21 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, which accounted for approximately 65% to 80% of IPD cases in Ontario between 2019 and 2023.