While 84% of parents or legal guardians surveyed report their children are fully up to date on recommended vaccines, only 51% of adults aged 65–75 and 33% of adults aged 18–64 say the same
KIRKLAND, QC, Nov. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- New findings from the latest Merck Canada Pulse Report, conducted by Ipsos, highlight gaps in self-reported adherence to recommended vaccination schedules among Canadian adults, particularly those aged 18 to 64.
Eighty-four per cent of parents or legal guardians surveyed reported that their children are fully up to date on recommended vaccines. Among adults, adherence to recommended vaccination schedules varies by age: 51% of respondents aged 65 to 75 said they are fully up to date, compared with 33% of those aged 18 to 64.
Knowing which vaccines are recommended in adulthood may not always be straightforward. Recommendations can vary based on factors such as age, health conditions, travel plans, and work environments, while questions around coverage can add another layer of complexity. Nearly one-third of respondents (31%) said their private insurance plan covers vaccines but that they are unsure which vaccines are included.
"It's encouraging to see that Canadians recognize the value of vaccination," said Dr. Victor Leung, infectious diseases physician and medical microbiologist at Providence Health Care and Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia. "At the same time, adult immunization is an area where some people may benefit from additional information and support. Vaccine recommendations can change over time, and conversations with trusted healthcare professionals can help Canadians understand what is recommended for them based on their age, health status, coverage, and individual circumstances."
Additional findings shed light on how Canadians are navigating vaccination decisions and where they turn for information. While healthcare professionals remain respondents' leading source of vaccine information, with 79% turning to them for guidance, more than half (54%) look online, rising to 62% among adults aged 18 to 34.
With a wide range of vaccine information available online, it may not always be easy to know which sources are credible or relevant. According to a 2026 Canadian Medical Association survey, as many as 64% of Canadians reported encountering health information or news that they later discovered was false or misleading.
Clear, trusted guidance can help Canadians make sense of the information they encounter and understand what applies to them as their health needs change throughout life, and the findings suggest they are receptive to that support.
Four in 10 said clearer explanations of why vaccines are recommended at specific ages or life stages would increase their confidence in following recommended schedules, while nearly two-thirds (62%) said they are likely or somewhat likely to proactively discuss immunization schedules with a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse practitioner in the next 12 months.
"Canadians should feel empowered to ask questions and understand what recommendations and options are relevant to them," said Matthew Thornhill, Executive Director, Vaccines & HIV Business Unit, Merck Canada. "Creating more opportunities for these discussions and supporting greater access to qualified healthcare providers can help bring trusted immunization guidance and services closer to Canadians in their communities."
Additional findings are available in the full Merck Canada Pulse Report and accompanying fact sheet.
About the Survey
This online survey was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Merck Canada to better understand Canadians' attitudes toward vaccination, including their views on vaccine confidence, individual and shared responsibility, immunization behaviours, access, coverage and affordability. The survey was fielded from August 20 to 25, 2026, among 1,000 Canadians aged 18 and older through the Ipsos iSay panel and was conducted in English and French. Data were weighted to reflect the overall Canadian population in terms of gender, age and region. The poll is accurate to within ±3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had all Canadians aged 18 and older been surveyed. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population.
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.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
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© 2026 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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References:
1. Merck Canada. Merck Canada Pulse Report: Vaccination Confidence, Access and Decision-Making in Canada. 2026.
2. Canadian Medical Association. 2026 Health and Media Tracking Survey. 2026. p. 5
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SOURCE Merck
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