The federal agency had previously stated that vapers were at an elevated risk of developing complications tied to COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has backtracked on its previous hardline position on vaping and the coronavirus, saying on Wednesday that there is no known evidence that vaping put an individual at higher risk of developing complications tied to COVID-19. However, the federal agency continued to warn that smoking cigarettes did pose a danger.
“E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of COVID-19 is not known,” the FDAÂ wrote in an emailed statement to Bloomberg News.
The decision comes after weeks of outrage from some in the tobacco control community who were upset that the FDA said vapers with underlying health conditions were at an elevated risk of compounding complications if they contracted the coronavirus.
“The FDA deserves no applause for eventually arriving at the right public stance, which is that there is no evidence linking the use of nicotine vaping products to COVID-19 infection or severity,” Gregory Conley, the president of the American Vaping Association, told VICE. “It was wholly irresponsible for the FDA to add fuel to the fire several weeks ago by commenting on a subject they now admit they know nothing about.”
Alex Norcia – Vice.com – April 16, 2020.
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