Aim <p>This study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of global publication trends in preventive medicine and vaccination within family medicine between 1980 and 2025, with the goal of mapping the scientific landscape, identifying key contributors, and characterizing thematic evolution over four decades.</p> Subject and methods <p>Data were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database (accessed March 2026). A topic–field search combining vaccination/immunization terms with family medicine/primary care/general practice terms was applied. Publication and citation patterns, country and institutional productivity, most active journals, authors, and keyword networks were examined. Annual publication trends, h-index, and mean citations per article were calculated.</p> Results <p>A total of 5290 publications were identified across 1189 journals. Original research articles comprised 84.2% of all publications. The USA was the most productive country (2267 publications), followed by the United Kingdom (1029), and Australia (333). Total citation count was 130,412, the h-index was 133, and mean citations per article was 24.7. The journal <i>Vaccine</i> was the most publishing journal (<i>n</i> = 356). Kempe A was the most prolific author (<i>n</i> = 74). Publication numbers showed marked increases during the 2009 H1N1 and 2020 COVID-19 pandemic periods, with the annual peak occurring in 2022 (<i>n</i> = 480). Keyword co-occurrence network analysis identified four thematic clusters: vaccination/immunization core, primary care setting, disease-specific research, and public health outcomes.</p> Conclusion <p>The preventive medicine and vaccination literature in family medicine demonstrates a continuously growing structure with pandemic-driven acceleration. Vaccine hesitancy, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, influenza immunization, and COVID-19 vaccination emerge as the dominant research themes, offering a roadmap for future investigative priorities in primary care.</p>