Understanding how long vaccines protect against infections

Systems Biological Assessment of the Durability of Vaccine Responses

Phase 4 Interventional Emory University · NCT05801978

This study is testing how long the protection from the yellow fever and flu vaccines lasts in people aged 18-50 to help improve future vaccines.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment66 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 50 Years
SexAll
SponsorEmory University Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Atlanta, Georgia and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05801978 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the durability of immune responses generated by two different vaccines: the yellow fever vaccine and the quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Participants aged 18-50 will receive one of these vaccines, and researchers will collect biological samples from their blood, lymph nodes, and bone marrow to analyze how the immune system responds over time. The goal is to identify the signals that contribute to long-lasting immunity, which is currently difficult to predict during vaccine development. This research aims to enhance our understanding of vaccine-induced protection and improve future vaccine design.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults aged 18-50 who can provide informed consent and meet specific health criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of serious vaccine allergies or significant medical conditions affecting immunity may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved vaccine formulations that provide longer-lasting protection against infections.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on vaccine responses, this specific comparison of long-term immunity between these two vaccines is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Able to understand and give informed consent.
* Age 18-50 years.
* Participants agree not to take any live vaccines 30 days before or after (14 days for inactivated) vaccination.
* Women of child bearing potential must agree to use effective birth control for the first 3 months of the study. A negative urine pregnancy test must be documented prior to vaccination and prior to tissue sampling procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of allergy or serious adverse reaction, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, to a vaccine or vaccine products.
* History of a medical condition resulting in impaired immunity (such as HIV infection, cancer, particularly leukemia, lymphoma, use of immunosuppressive or antineoplastic drugs or X-ray treatment). Persons with previous skin cancers or cured non-lymphatic tumors are not excluded from the study.
* History of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection.
* Chronic clinically significant medical problems that could affect the immune response, require medication that would affect the immune response, or have signs or symptoms that could be confused with reactions to vaccination, including (but not limited to):

  1. Insulin dependent diabetes
  2. Severe heart disease (including arrhythmias)
  3. Severe lung disease
  4. Severe liver disease
  5. Severe kidney disease
  6. Grade 4 hypertension (\*Grade 4 hypertension per CTCAE criteria is defined as life-threatening consequences (e.g., malignant hypertension, transient or permanent neurologic deficit))
* Thymus gland problems (such as myasthenia gravis, DiGeorge syndrome, thymoma) or removal of thymus gland or history of uncontrolled autoimmune disorder.
* Pregnancy or breast feeding, or plans to become pregnant in the first 3 months of study participation.
* Receipt of blood products or immune globulin product within the prior 3 months.
* Active duty military.
* History of excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, psychiatric conditions, social conditions or occupational conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude compliance with the trial.

Additional Exclusion Criteria for YF-17D Arm

* History of previous yellow fever, West Nile, Dengue, St. Louis encephalitis, or Japanese encephalitis vaccination or infection.
* Previous residence in a country where there is a risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission
* History of allergy to eggs, chicken, or gelatin.

Additional Exclusion Criteria for QIV Arm

* History of influenza infection within the same influenza season.

Where this trial is running

Atlanta, Georgia and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Vaccine ResponseDurabilityImmune Response
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.