New research shows that teenagers and young adults who vape are between five and seven times more likely to contract the novel corona virus compared to those that did not.

The study by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine was published on Tuesday. Al Arabiyya reports that this was the first study to examine the link between vape use in young people and corona virus infection.

The study’s lead author, Dr Shivani Mathur Gaiha, said, “This study tells us pretty clearly that youth who are using vapes or are dual-using (e-cigarettes and cigarettes) are at elevated risk, and it’s not just a small increase in risk; it’s a big one.”

According to Al Arabiyya, 4,351 participants aged 13 to 24, were interviewed across the United States. Those that had used both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes were found to be nearly seven times more likely be diagnosed with the virus. Gaiha said that while young people may believe their youth shields them from contracting the virus or experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, the data shows there is a substantially higher risk of infection for youth who vape, and even higher for those who vape in addition to smoking cigarettes.

The study did not, however, find a connection between COVID-19 infection and smoking just conventional cigarettes.

Last month, the World Health Organization warned that those who smoke normal cigarettes are at a higher risk of severe illness and death from the corona virus, but French researchers in April, suggested that smokers were at less risk of catching COVID-19. Their results, however, were questioned for lacking definitive data.

Umm Muhammed Umar