Kids Do Seem Less Susceptible to COVID-19—Unless They Smoke E-Cigarettes

While children are not immune to infection from COVID-19, so far it appears they’re less susceptible than adults. One risk factor that seems to negate whatever protection youth might offer: e-cigarette use. An article just published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals that adolescents who have ever used e-cigarettes are five times more likely than nonusers to receive a COVID-19 diagnosis. Kids who acknowledge using e-cigarettes within the past 30 days at the time of the study were 6.8 times more likely than those who have never used. Adolescents who have ever used e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes were at greatest risk—seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than nonusers. The data were drawn from responses of 4,351 adolescents to an online survey in every state, the District of Columbia, and three union territories.