Stopping Superbugs with Vaccines: How Vaccination Can Help Us Win the Fight Against Drug-Resistant Germs

by Hemagirri Manisekaran

You’ve probably heard of “superbugs”; germs that don’t get better with normal medicine. This is because they have become resistant to antibiotics and other treatments. This global health problem is called Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). It happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites change in a way that makes medicine stop working against them.

Why should we care? Because when antibiotics don’t work, even simple infections can become deadly. But there’s good news: vaccines can help prevent this.

How Vaccines Fight Superbugs

1. Vaccines prevent infections in the first place.
When people don’t get sick, they don’t need medicine. For example, the pneumonia vaccine protects against bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a common cause of infections that often need antibiotics.

2. Vaccines reduce the need for antibiotics.
Sometimes a virus, like the flu, can lead to other infections that need antibiotics, such as bacterial pneumonia. But if you get a flu shot, you’re less likely to fall sick and need antibiotics.

3. Vaccines protect whole communities.
When more people are vaccinated, diseases don’t spread easily. This is called herd immunity. It protects people who can’t get vaccinated, like babies or those with certain illnesses. Fewer infections mean less need for antibiotics.

Real Impact of Vaccines on AMR

A WHO study found that if we make better use of the vaccines we already have, we could prevent over half a million deaths each year caused by antimicrobial-resistant infections.

Another WHO report showed that vaccines against just 23 types of harmful germs could reduce the number of antibiotics used globally by 2.5 billion doses each year; that’s a 22% drop! This would greatly reduce the chance of germs developing resistance.

Looking Ahead

Scientists are also working on new vaccines that target the most dangerous superbugs. While we wait for these new tools, using the vaccines we already have can save lives and help protect the power of antibiotics.

Why It Matters

Vaccination is not just about avoiding sickness—it’s a powerful tool in protecting the whole community and making sure our medicines still work when we need them. Getting vaccinated helps fight superbugs, keeps families safe, and makes sure our future stays healthier.