To learn more about Costco Pharmacy, click on the “Pharmacy”
link at Costco.com or call toll-free 1-800-607-6861.
VARICELLA VIRUS
CHICKENPOX IS A contagious disease
caused by the varicella virus. Chickenpox
causes a blister-like rash, itching, fatigue
and fever, and usually lasts ;ve to seven
days. Anyone who has not had chickenpox
or been vaccinated against chickenpox can
get the disease, according to
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC;
cdc.gov/chickenpox/
index.html).
Chickenpox is spread
easily from person to per-
son by touching or breath-
ing in virus particles. Some
people develop a serious
case of chickenpox, with
complications such as skin infections, pneu-
monia, and bloodstream or brain infec-
tions, and may need to be hospitalized.
;e varicella virus can also cause shin-
gles later in life. Anyone who has had
chickenpox can get shingles, which is a
Chickenpox: A childhood
disease revisited
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M
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BA
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CHILDHOOD VACCINES
VITAMIN C
UPDATE
Pharmacy
painful, blistering rash. Close to a third of
the people in the United States will develop
shingles in their lifetime. Antiviral treatment is available for shingles, but is not
always e;ective.
;e best way to protect against chickenpox and shingles is to get
vaccinated. ;e CDC recommends that children,
adolescents and adults get
two doses of chickenpox
vaccine if they have never
had chickenpox. For adults,
the shingles vaccine
(Zostavax) is a one-time
vaccination that provides
protection against shingles.
Varicella virus vaccines for chickenpox and
shingles are available at your local Costco
Pharmacy and are covered by most insurance plans. Call or stop by your local
Costco Pharmacy to check availability. Age
restrictions vary by state.
AN ANTIOXIDANT AND essential nutrient, vitamin C is found in many fruits and
vegetables, and must be consumed through
diet and replenished daily, as the human body
cannot produce it. It is a key nutrient for
many aspects of health and overall well-being.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps support the body’s cells, including immune system cells, by neutralizing free radicals. These
compounds can be generated during normal
metabolism, as well as through exposure to
toxins and pollutants, and are detrimental to
overall health. Vitamin C also helps support
the immune system, collagen synthesis and
iron absorption.
Multiple factors, including age, gender and
life stage, can affect the amount of vitamin C a
person needs. The Institute of Medicine’s recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C
varies slightly, depending on gender and life
stage: men and women at least 19 years old
should consume 90 and 75 milligrams (mg)
daily, respectively. There are higher recommendations for pregnant ( 85 mg daily) and breast-feeding women ( 120 mg daily) to address the
increased nutrient needs of mother and baby.
Antioxidant
support
Back-to-school
immunizations
SCHOOL SEASON IS just around the corner. As you prepare your children for school
and/or college, this is the perfect time to
make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC;
cdc.gov/vaccines/parents)
provides resources for parents on vaccine
schedules, requirements and answers to
common questions about vaccines.
Although many diseases such as polio,
measles and whooping cough are rare in
the United States, they do still exist.
According to the CDC, one of the best
ways you can keep your children healthy
and protect against serious and potentially
life-threatening diseases is to get them vaccinated. Vaccinating children also protects
others in the community who are at an
increased risk of illness, such as babies who
are too young to be vaccinated and those
who have a weakened immune system.
Costco Pharmacy provides immunizations to children 9 years and older. Vaccines
are covered by most insurance plans. Call
your Costco pharmacist to find out which
vaccines and dosing schedules are right for
your children. Age restrictions vary by
state. (For more information on immunization schedules, see story on page 63.)
COSTCO
The best way to
protect against
chickenpox and
shingles is to get
vaccinated.