New private health insurance data shows 178 Australians – including six from WA – have been hospitalised with serious health problems caused by vaping since 2000.
Lung and chest disorders were the most common clinical category for the vaping-related hospitalisations, which resulted in two deaths.
The Private Healthcare Australia report coincides with the introduction this week of a new access scheme allowing doctors to prescribe therapeutic vapes, and a Federal Government ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes.
The PHA data – which only includes patients who claimed their hospital stay on private health insurance – reveals that seven children aged under 15 were hospitalised due to a vaping related disorder or injury since 2000, including a two-year-old.
Another 19 young people aged 15-24 required treatment connected to vaping.
PHA CEO Dr Rachel David said the data confirmed that vaping was a serious health threat, leading to significant respiratory issues for many Australians and causing severe complications for people with comorbidities.
But the figures were only likely to be the tip of the iceberg because they only included people who had used their private health insurance for their hospital treatment.
“This is more evidence of the dangerous, addictive threat vaping poses to all Australians, especially young people who may not realise they’re gambling with their health,” she said.
“E-cigarettes or vapes might smell sweet and look benign, but research shows they contain up to 200 chemicals including weed killer and paint stripper. We also know that many of the products claiming to be nicotine-free contain the addictive drug — the assumption vaping addiction is benign is incorrect.”
She said vaping was having an impact on the private health sector, with one in five vaping related hospitalisations falling into the PHI high claims category, exceeding $10,000 in benefits paid.
“Australian health funds have paid over $1.23 million in hospital benefits for members with vaping related disorders and we commend the Albanese Government for taking a strong stand against vaping,” she said.
“Health funds want to protect Australians from the preventable damage vaping causes and the ban on the importation of disposable single use vapes is a great start. We do not want another generation developing nicotine addiction and heart and lung problems like we saw with tobacco.”
Meanwhile the new vaping regulations introduced this week are being hailed by health advocates as a genuine but long overdue move to end the childhood uptake of nicotine products in Australia.
The importation ban on single-use products is the first of three regulatory changes set to crack down on vaping in Australia. In March, the importation of all other vapes, such as refillable products, will also be prohibited for anyone without a license or permit from the Office of Drug Control.
During this year, product standards for therapeutic vapes will also be strengthened, limiting the number of flavours, reducing permissible nicotine concentrations, and implementing new pharmaceutical packaging requirements.
Alongside this week’s ban on the importation of single-use products, the Federal Government introduced a Special Access Scheme pathway to allow the prescribed use of vaping products for therapeutic purposes.
Where clinically appropriate, nurse practitioners and medical practitioners will be able to prescribe select vaping products in a clinical setting.