MRK · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report

Vaccine Policy Litigation

Merck & Co., Inc. · 2026-11-04 · Importance 53 · Surprise 60

In January 2026, the acting CDC director changed the U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule, reducing routinely recommended vaccinations and introducing three recommendation categories. On March 16, 2026, a federal district court in Massachusetts preliminarily enjoined the schedule changes, and the government appealed aspects of the ruling to the First Circuit. The change and litigation affect the policy environment for Merck’s U.S. vaccine portfolio, though Merck does not quantify a financial impact here.

Key facts

• A Massachusetts federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on March 16, 2026 staying, among other things, the CDC immunization schedule changes; the government appealed aspects of the ruling. source