No immunization should be contraindicated for the nursing mother, unless
the child is immune deficient and the mother is getting a live
(attenuated) virus.  If the healthy baby gets some live attenuated
(weakened) virus, he will develop his own immunity.

If some antigen does manage to get into the mother's milk, it is not
going to cause disease in the baby.

Gamma Globulin is immunoglobulins, and we surely do not worry about
immunoglobulins in the milk.

BCG is given all over the world to newborn babies.  The mother may
transfer some sensitized white cells to her baby in her milk and may
boost his immunity against TB in this way.  It is not a terribly
effective vaccine.

Hepatitis B is now given to many newborns, and will soon be recommended
for all, in Canada.

Japanese encephalitis immunization should, like all others, not be a
concern.

Typhoid is a killed bacterial immunization.  Besides being virtually
useless and painful for the mother, it is not a concern for the baby.

Rabies? Why on earth?  Usually this is used only if you get exposed, not
prophylactically.  In any case, safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC