Helping protect against vaccine-preventable diseases
Vaccination is one of the many ways you can help protect your loved ones against certain vaccine-preventable diseases
September 10, 2025
Vaccines are one of the greatest public health success stories in history
Vaccines help protect against more than 30 potentially life-threatening diseases and are one of the greatest public health achievements of our time.
We recognize and support many global health stakeholders for their efforts in raising awareness about the importance of vaccination and helping prevent infectious diseases around the world.
Broader vaccination coverage along with other public health measures have contributed to the eradication of smallpox and significantly decreased the incidence of other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Declining immunization rates persist
Childhood immunization rates have been declining in recent years, with the global population facing the largest sustained decline in approximately 30 years.
A downward trend in global immunization persists, with immunization coverage stalling in 2023, leaving 2.7 million more children un- or under-vaccinated compared to 2019.
Research shows that routine childhood vaccinations for people in the U.S. born from 1994-2023 have contributed to helping prevent about 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations.
In 2024, it’s estimated that more than 14.3 million infants around the world did not receive some routinely recommended vaccines.
Recovering immunization rates together
Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to reimagine the role we all can play.
At Merck, our broad portfolio of vaccines helps protect against certain infectious diseases affecting individuals around the world and across all stages of life from infancy through older adulthood. Through our work in vaccines, we’re committed to helping protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases today and for generations to come.
But we can’t be successful alone. That’s why we’re working with a variety of stakeholders to help increase vaccination rates, build trust and enable access to vaccination services for everyone who can benefit from them.
We’re also encouraging individuals to speak with their health care providers about vaccines that may be recommended for them or their families.
Merck and its legacy companies have a 100+ year history of innovation and commitment to helping prevent disease by discovering, developing, supplying and delivering vaccines.
To keep pace with the ever-evolving disease landscape, we go where the need is to find new ways to address complex public health problems. We continue to invest in groundbreaking research and breakthrough technologies to help protect against potentially life-altering vaccine-preventable diseases.
