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Fortune places Merck in 2022 Change the World List



10/24/2022

Merck’s recognition was for expanding access to HPV vaccines across countries around the world.


Merck has been named by Fortune in it’s 2022 list of Change the World.
 
The annual list honors businesses that have made a positive social impact as part of their core business strategy. Merck was chosen for its efforts to increase global access to its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
 
“It’s an honor for Merck to be included on Fortune’s 2022 Change the World List, and recognized for making our HPV vaccines available to communities around the world,” said Robert M. Davis, Merck’s CEO and president.
 
“This is the third time over the last five years that our company has been on this list and we are very proud of being acknowledged for the positive impact we continue to make on global health. Our commitment and efforts in this space reflect Merck’s distinguished legacy of operating responsibly and creating value for society. Importantly, we know that even more needs to be done to advance health equity, and our team is inspired and passionate about finding new ways to bring our medicines and vaccines to people and communities everywhere.”

Merck's HPV vaccine access strategy is fully aligned with the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, specifically Merck's commitment to expanding access for people and communities worldwide.

Merck has taken the following actions regarding its HPV vaccines:
  • Collaborated with UNICEF on a long-term agreement to provide 91.5 million doses for use in Gavi-supported countries from 2021 to 2025;
  • Invested more than $2 billion in capital over the last five years to help increase supply of our HPV vaccines and extend access globally;
  • Received prequalification from WHO in May 2022 for our HPV vaccines to be used outside the cold chain for up to four days, enhancing accessibility for hard-to-reach populations.
Merck has been named to Fortune's Change the World list for the third time in the last five years. Merck was previously recognized in 2018 for its Ebola leadership, and in 2020 for its impact investing program.

Fortune chooses companies for this award based on a set of criteria that includes the measurable social impact of their work to meet unmet social needs, the links between this work and successful business results, the level of innovation demonstrated, and the integration of their socially beneficial work into their larger corporate identity.