Neutralizing antibody response to booster vaccination with the 17d yellow fever vaccine

A retrospective review was conducted of yellow fever vaccination among laboratory workers receiving annual serologic assessment to determine the initial and long-term response after boosting. Patients were divided into three groups based on pre-vaccination serology: Group 1, 1:10; Group 2, 1:20–1:40 and Group 3, >1:40. The percent with ≥four-fold increase in titers after booster vaccination were: 78% (646/829, Group 1), 65% (79/121, Group 2) and 10% (8/79, Group 3) (p < 0.0001). The median times to titer failure (<1:40) were 798 days (Group 1), 3340 days (Group 2) and 7709 days (Group 3) (p < 0.0001). Pre-vaccination serology influenced the initial and long-term response to yellow fever booster vaccination.