The Science of Bacterial Mutation (And Why Vaccination is Crucial)

On The Weird and Wacky World of Bacteria, Antibiotics, and Developing Vaccines

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

“I don’t know how many died, I don’t think anybody knows,” stated R.F.K. Jr. when asked about the American death toll of COVID, a number reported on the CDC’s website.

Like many other folks, I watched Kennedy’s Senate Finance Committee hearing highlights last week with my mouth agape. It is an exhausting time to be a citizen with more than half a brain in this country.

I’ve previously written about vaccines, focusing on viruses and the incredible preventive treatments available for the diseases they cause. Frustrated with COVID-19 denial and misinformation, I took a deep dive into how viruses work and why vaccines are an amazing, life-saving invention. The SFC hearing reminded me that there’s still more to say about vaccinations.

Although less discussed, bacterial vaccinations are also a modern marvel. They’re not often the star of the vaccine show, but the shots we have for preventing bacterial disease are as critical as all the others for public health and safety.

To understand the importance of vaccinations against disease-causing bacteria, we must first dive into the world of microbiology.