Climate change worsens disease threats while straining vaccine effectiveness

Global warming is enabling the spread of diseases like dengue and cholera while disrupting vaccine effectiveness and distribution, experts say.

Kiley Price reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Rising temperatures and extreme weather fuel the spread of diseases such as dengue fever and cholera by creating conditions for bacteria and mosquitoes to thrive.
• Climate change damages vaccine infrastructure, with heat and humidity degrading supplies and extreme events impeding distribution.
• Vaccine hesitancy, worsened by misinformation and political rhetoric, undermines immunization efforts at a time when they are more critical than ever.

Key quote:

“Vaccine hesitancy and climate change denialism are two faces of the same ugly coin.”

— Alessandro Siani, University of Portsmouth researcher

Why this matters:

Global health faces a dual threat as climate change accelerates the spread of infectious diseases while also complicating prevention and treatment. Addressing misinformation and bolstering vaccine systems are critical to safeguarding vulnerable populations.

Read more: Republicans’ growing distrust in science is a danger to public health