Which vaccine protects against a disease that can be prevented by a vaccine given shortly after birth and involves a bacterial infection?

The BCG vaccine is designed to protect against tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This vaccine is typically administered shortly after birth, as infants are particularly vulnerable to severe forms of TB. The timing of the BCG vaccination is crucial because it helps to build the infant's immunity early on, reducing the risk of developing TB later in life.

The other vaccines listed serve different purposes and protect against different diseases. For instance, the MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, but it is not given shortly after birth; it is administered at around 12-15 months of age. The oral polio vaccine is designed to prevent poliomyelitis and is generally given in infancy, but it is not directly related to bacterial infections. The Diphtheria vaccine protects against diphtheria, a bacterial infection, but it is part of a combination vaccine that is typically administered in early childhood, rather than immediately after birth. Thus, the BCG vaccine is the most relevant answer to the question regarding early vaccination against a bacterial infection.