Vaping and COVID-19

Harmony Liu

Nearly three years into the pandemic, the general population have grown keenly aware of the effects of COVID-19 and how to protect themselves from it: wear a mask, get the vaccines, wash your hands, social distance. Even as society starts to pull ourselves out of this dark time and relax on the many safety measures, there is one thing most people don’t think about when trying to avoid Covid—vaping.

Here at Clean Lungs for the Youth, we have spoken extensively about the risks that come with vaping. It contains dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer, lung disease, and many other health issues. It is highly addictive, especially for adolescents, and is detrimental to the immune system. The harm it causes makes it easier for users to catch diseases, and harder for them to recover: including COVID-19.

A study conducted early on during the pandemic sought to find out what happens to e-cigarette users when they are exposed to a respiratory virus such as COVID-19, and the results were worrisome. They found that people who vape did not develop immunity post-infection, and that levels of immune genes that protect against viruses decreased. This means that e-cigarette users are likely to catch COVID-19 multiple times and experience more severe symptoms.

We can even flip the statistics around—a COVID-19 diagnosis is five times more likely among vape users, and seven times more likely among vape and cigarette users. The COVID vaccine is also reported to be less effective for vape users.

Research on the effects of vaping on COVID-19 is relatively new and it is still too early to undoubtedly confirm the fact that vaping directly increases chances of catching COVID-19. However, there is a clear correlation between the two, and it would be wise to consider the information we have available. What we do know and have known for sure is that vaping is dangerous and can cause great harm to human health; even before the Coronavirus came along and changed health and safety standards. If you or someone you know uses vape products, the risks of catching this virus should be a further incentive to consider quitting.

(Read our blog post here if you need information and assistance on how to quit vaping.)

Sources:

Derewicz, Mark. “Are e-Cigarette Users at Greater Risk of Poor Immune Response to Flu, COVID?” Newsroom, 12 Nov. 2020, https://news.unchealthcare.org/2020/11/are-e-cigarette-users-at-greater-risk-of-poor-immune-response-to-flu-covid/#:~:text=to%20Flu%2C%20COVID%3F-,Are%20E%2Dcigarette%20Users%20at%20Greater%20Risk%20of,Immune%20Response%20to%20Flu%2C%20COVID%3F&text=Led%20by%20Meghan%20Rebuli%2C%20PhD,immune%20response%20to%20viral%20infections.

Vaping and Covid-19 – What We Know so Far - Public Health Ontario. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/covid-wwksf/2020/10/what-we-know-vaping-covid.pdf?sc_lang=en.

McFadden, David D., et al. “Symptoms COVID 19 Positive Vapers Compared to Covid 19 Positive Non-Vapers.” Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, vol. 13, 2022, p. 215013192110626., https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319211062672.