Booster immunization is the following vaccination after a period of vaccine primary immunization schedule in order to maintain immunity against a certain pathogen. In this article, the immunological mechanism of booster immunization is elaborated, and the effectiveness and public health value of booster immunization for common vaccines is discussed. Subsequently, three hot issues of general concern in booster immunization are addressed, and the public health viewpoint that "Primary immunization of vaccines is fundamental, and booster immunization is the guarantee" is emphasized, so as to raise awareness of the importance and necessity of booster immunization as well as to provide scientific evidences for vaccine immunization practice.
Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Public Health ; Immunization Schedule ; Vaccination ; Viral Vaccines

Introduction: Booster vaccination has been shown to reduce transmission and serious infection with COVID-19. This study examined the willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine and its associated factors among high-risk patients at Klinik Kesihatan Putrajaya Presint 9. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients aged ≥18 years attending Klinik Kesihatan Putrajaya Presint 9 with a high risk of contracting COVID-19 recruited via systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the associated factors. Results: The response rate for this study was 97.4% (N=489). The median patient age was 55 years. Approximately 51.7% were men, and 90.4% were Malays. Approximately 81.2% were willing to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine. The patients who perceived COVID-19 as a serious illness (Adjusted Odd Ratio, AOR=2.414), those who perceived COVID-19 booster vaccines as beneficial (AOR=7.796), those who disagreed that COVID-19 booster vaccines have many side effects (AOR=3.266), those who had no doubt about the content of COVID-19 vaccines (AOR=2.649) and those who were employed (AOR=2.559) and retired (AOR=2.937) were more likely to be willing to receive a booster vaccine than those who were unemployed and those who did not have close friends or family members who contracted severe COVID-19 (AOR=2.006). Conclusion The majority of the participants were willing to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine. Healthcare authorities should take initiatives to design targeted public intervention programmes to increase the willingness for COVID-19 booster vaccination.
COVID-19 ; Immunization, Secondary ; Vaccines ; Malaysia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of the booster immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Korean children. METHODS: Thirty-nine children aged 12-23 months who visited Kangnam CHA Hospital between September 2006 and December 2006 were enrolled. The children were divided into primary and booster groups depending on their vaccination status for the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The anti-pneumococcal antibody levels of each serotype included in the vaccine (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F) were determined by third-generation ELISA. RESULTS: The geometric mean titer (GMT) of antibodies to each pneumococcal serotype in the booster group was higher than in the primary group (P<.05). The percentage of subjects with pneumococcal antibodies > or =0.35 microgram/mL was 90.5-100% for all serotypes in both the primary and booster groups. The percentage of subjects with pneumococcal antibodies > or =1.0 g/mL in the booster group was 94.4-100%, which was higher than the primary group except for serotypes 6B and 14 (P<.05). The percentage of subjects with pneumococcal antibodies > or =5.0 microgram/mL in the booster group was 50.0-94.4% which was higher than the primary group for all serotypes (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The immunogenicity of a booster dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Korean children was high and the immunogenicity of a primary series was also relatively high. To determine the feasibility of the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the appropriate schedule for Korean children, further prospective investigation of the immunogenicity of the booster immunization is needed.
Aged ; Antibodies ; Appointments and Schedules ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization, Secondary ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Korea is, known to be an endemic area of viral hepatitis B, and 5-6% of population are carriers. Immunization can reduce the spread of hepatitis B infection. Hower, not all people respond to hepatitis B immunsation. 5-15% of primary vaccinees fail to be immunized. After revaccination, only 37.5 44% of the primary failures elicit antibody response. Recent studies have reported that it is effective to inject a double dose vaccination in immunocompromsed patients. In some country, they recommend that neonate whode mother is HBV carrier shoud receive double dose vaccination. This study documented the results of double dose vaccintion only once to nonrsponders toward the HBV immunzation. METHODS: Healthy nonresponders to Hepatitis B immunization were recuited from Sep. 1995 to Aug. 1996. Subjects with their AST/ALT level over 40, or over 65 years old were excluded. They were received 2ml of plasma-derived vaccine(Hepavax-B) intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle. Anti-HBs antibody testing were performed at 1 to 3 months after vaccintion. RESULTS: 17 healthy nanreponders to Hepatitis B immunization(male 10, female 7) were included. Their mean ages were 47(32 to64), AST/ALT level 20/19(16 to 28/11 to 35), smoking 4.3pys(1 to 7). Seroconversion occured in 13 of them(76.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Nonresponders to Hepatitis B vaccintion respond well to double dose vaccination once.
Aged ; Antibody Formation ; Deltoid Muscle ; Female ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization, Secondary ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Mothers ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: Hepatitis B virus infection is prevalent in Korea. Active immunization of Hepatitis B has been proceeded extensively for the last decade. This study was performed to estimate the negative rate of anti-HBs after immunization and to evaluate the effect of revaccination among Korean children between 1995 and 1997, as well as to determine a proper revaccination schedule. METHODS: Anti-HBs was measured with enzyme immunoassay. Hepatitis B revaccination was performed on nonresponders, those who were previously vaccinated and whose anti-HBs titers were under 10mIU/mL. Group A was revaccinated one dose of the same amount of the previous vaccine. Group B was given three doses of the same amount of the vaccine. Group C was given one double dose of the vaccine. The seroconversion rate and geometrical mean titer were measured one month later. RESULTS: Negative anti-HBs rate was 14.5% in children who had been vaccinated. The seroconversion rate was high in all revaccination groups(86.7-94.7%). Three doses of revaccination had no significant difference from one dose of revaccination. There was no positive effect of double dose of revaccination in comparison with the usual dose. CONCLUSION: In our study, one dose of hepatitis B vaccine is as effective as three doses or double dose of hepatitis B vaccine for the nonresponsive children. We recommend administering one dose of hepatitis B vaccine to those children whose three anti-HBs titer is under 10mIU/mL and examining of the anti-HBs titer one month later after revaccination.
Appointments and Schedules ; Child* ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization, Secondary* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of anti-CD4 antibody as an anti-inflammatory agent for the experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis. METHODS: Lewis rats were immunized with melanin-associated antigen and treated with anti-CD4 antibody for a week and then received secondary immunization with the same antigen at 8 weeks after primary immunization. The clinical grading of the uveitis and the effect of anti-CD4 on cell death and cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-10) expression were followed. RESULTS: The cell death of CD4+ T cells was dependent on the dose of the antibody. The prevention of the primary uveitis paralleled the deletion of CD4+ T cells. The secondary uveitis was suppressed in the eyes treated early with lower doses (0.1, 1 mg/kg) of the antibody, even though mild degree of intraocular inflammation appeared in the primary uveitis in these groups. In the eyes treated with higher doses (10, 20 mg/kg), the severity of secondary uveitis was slightly reduced despite complete suppression of primary uveitis. IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells decreased and IL-10 producing CD4+ T cells increased after early anti-CD4 mAb treatment with a lower dose (1.0 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that anti-CD4 antibody treatment could be used in the future for the treatment of endogenous uveitis.
Animals ; Cell Death ; Immune Tolerance* ; Immunization ; Immunization, Secondary ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior*

immunization for HBsAb negative HIV patients are required and efforts should be made to increase HBsAb positive rates among HIV patients to prevent horizontal transmission.]]>
Cohort Studies ; Coinfection ; Hepatitis B virus ; HIV Infections ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Korea ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Vaccination

The Delta variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a new global wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines currently available in China show high effectiveness against severe illness and death. However, transmission of the virus is not fully stopped by vaccination alone, therefore, integrated vaccination and non-pharmacological interventions is necessary to prevent and control the epidemic in the near future. Further expanded vaccine coverage of primary doses as well as booster shots in China's domestic population are needed to reduce severe illness and death. In order to provide evidence necessary for adjusting and optimizing immunization strategies and pandemic control measures, it is essential to conduct research on vaccine effectiveness against emerging variants, persistence of vaccine-induced protection, surveillance of adverse event following immunization with large-scale vaccine use, and modelling studies on strategic combinations of vaccination and non-pharmacological interventions.
COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; China ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Vaccination ; Vaccine Efficacy

Some countries with high coverage of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combined vaccines have experienced pertussis epidemics and/or local outbreaks since 1980s. This phenomenon is called "pertussis resurgence". In recent years, pertussis epidemics in several provinces of China have resurged dramatically, arousing great concern from all parties. By referring the working model of the Global Pertussis Initiative, the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association has organized and launched the China Pertussis Initiative. A group of experts in this field has analyzed data of current pertussis in China and identified problems posed by the disease. This expert consensus was completed based on the discussions of the latest national and international research progeress, epidemiological trends and immunization strategies of pertussis, with special aims to provide guidance for the surveillance, prevention and control of pertussis in China.
China/epidemiology* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Tetanus ; Vaccination ; Whooping Cough/prevention & control*

PURPOSE: Antibody persistence after primary series of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and responses to boosters are seldom studied in Korean children. We performed this study to evaluate the antibody titer in relation to booster immunization of Hib vaccine in Korean children. METHOD: One hundred forty four children aged 12-23 months were enrolled in three university hospitals. The immunogenicity of boosters with Hib vaccine was assessed in children previously primed with Hib vaccine. Antibody persistence was also assessed in children who had received 3 doses of Hib vaccine without a booster. Anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) IgG antibody levels and bactericidal titers were determined by enzyme immunoassay and bactericidal assay at the Center for Vaccine Evaluation and Study, Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University. RESULTS: Prior to a booster in the second year of life, geometric mean antibody concentrations were 2.39 microgram/mL and the percent of subjects who had a anti-PRP antibody level > or =1 microgram/mL was 68.6%. After boosting, antibody concentration was 19.09 microgram/mL and the percent of subjects who had a anti- PRP antibody level > or =1 microgram/mL was 96.5%, which reflects previous immune priming. In subjects who had finished primary immunization only, the bactericidal titer was 3,946 and in subjects who had a booster, it was 11,205. Anti-PRP antibody level was correlated with serum bactericidal titer. CONCLUSION: Many children aged 12-23 month old still had protective antibodies after recommended primary immunization only. A booster dose seemed to induce good anamnestic antibody responses in Korean children.
Academies and Institutes ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; Child* ; Female ; Haemophilus influenzae type b* ; Haemophilus influenzae* ; Haemophilus* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization, Secondary ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Immunoglobulin G ; Vaccination*