Extreme heat at outdoor COVID-19 vaccination sites

Abstract

Extreme heat is an increasing climate risk due to climate change and the urban heat island (UHI) effect and can jeopardize points of dispensing (PODs) for COVID-19 vaccination distribution and broader public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) response operations. These PODs were often located on large parking lot sites with high heat severity and did not take heat mitigation or management strategies into account for unacclimated workers and volunteers. To investigate the personal heat exposure of workers, volunteers, and clients at three PODs in Tucson, Arizona, we collected ambient air temperatures, wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT), surface temperatures, and thermal images. We also made qualitative observations and compared data against daily meteorological records. Ambient air temperatures at all three PODs exceeded the meteorological recorded high. WBGT on average were 8°F (4.4°C) higher in full sun locations than shaded locations such as tents. Evaporative cooling decreased ambient air temperatures by 2°F (1.2°C) when placed one per tent, but decreased ambient air temperatures by 7°F (3.9°C) when placed en masse in a larger tent. Vehicle surface temperatures exceeded recommended safe limits of 140°F (60°C) at all three sites, with a maximum temperature recorded at 170.9°F (77.2°C). Public health professionals should consider heat resilience, including heat mitigation and management measures, in POD and PHEP response operations to reduce exposure. This includes considering the UHI effect in the siting of PODs, applying heat mitigation strategies in the design of PODs such as the adaptive use of solar panels for shading, and improving heat safety guidance for workers and volunteers.

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“…In addition, many points of dispensing (PODs) for COVID-19 vaccination distribution are located in large parking lots. Keith et al 24 warned that the high temperature of such an environment might cause damage to the staff and volunteers.…”

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“…Natural hazards and disasters compound the health impacts of other cascading or concurrent non-climate related disasters. In another example, Keith et al (2021) noted how the hottest summer on record in the Northern Hemisphere coincided with the pandemic, requiring shifts in response resources and mitigation of compounding health hazards like heat-related injury and illness (59). Metzl et al (2021) noted that pandemic-related resource shifting of first responders and emergency departments in major U.S. cities lead to increased lethality following recent multiple-victim shootings (60).…”