I am a La Leche League Leader who received a call from a mother of a 3-week old infant. Mom is starting a nursing program at a local college and is required to have a series of immunizations since she will be working with patients - she is to have th PPD skin test, varicele (sp?) titer, diptheria toxoid booster, tetanus booster and the hepatitis B vaccine series. The one she is most concerned about is the hepatitis B since it is a live virus. She has asked many people whether she should continue to breastfeed or not and been given different answers. She has heard stories of babies getting hepatitis by nursing. Her pediatrician didn't want to answer the question of whether she should continue nursing or not but when pressed said she should not nurse for two weeks after the vaccine. This is not very practical because she has to have a second shot a month later and then a third some time later. Discontinuing nursing for two weeks would be very detrimental to her nursing relationship with the baby. Do any of you LactNetters have any information for me to pass on to her about this? Isn't the hepatitis B vaccine now given to very young babies anyway? Please educate me if you can. I would appreciate a swift reply as she is scheduled for the vaccines in 48 hours and cannot continue with her nursing studies unless she receives the vaccinations. Thanks very much!