San Matean, Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University has an important message for parents and young people, “Teens and young adults need to know that if you use e-cigarettes, you are likely at immediate risk of COVID-19 because you are damaging your lungs.”
Connection between vaping and COVID-19
A new study of adolescent vapers aged 13 to 24 shows they are five times more likely than non-vapers to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Young people who had used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days were almost five times as likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing, fever, tiredness and difficulty breathing as those who never smoked or vaped.
In a letter to the FDA, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Raja Kirshnamoorthi wrote, "In view of this national study proving our worst fears, I respectfully reiterate my call on FDA to clear the market of all e-cigarettes, temporarily, for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. It is the only responsible path forward."
Stop Marketing "Poisonous Candy" to Kids
Retailers are selling to our kids. In 2019, 43% of Cupertino retailers illegally sold tobacco to minors.
There's been a national surge in youth vaping, from 2017- 2018 use increased 78% among high school students and 48% among middle school students. High school students in San Mateo County have a higher prevalence of tobacco use than the State average (20.8% vs 10.9%.)
Data shows that illegal sales to minors reduce significantly with local tobacco permit. I've been working with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, our PTA Council, and Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council to raise this to the Council to consider placing restrictions and penalties on the sale of e-cigarettes that target youth in San Mateo.
In September, Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher gave a presentation to our City Council on the research and advocated for San Mateo to adopt a ban on sale of flavored tobacco and e-cigs to help protect our youth.
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