I wish I could tell you what would be the safest thing to do, but you’re really in a tough situation with your boy. I can’t even think what I would do under the same circumstances. Will keep you in my prayers and ask the Guy Upstairs to keep a close eye on your family.

As promised, ladies here is the advice from my Aunt, Dr. Hull, who is an epidemiologist specialising in viruses and who has held senior positions at WHO and th Caribbean Epidemiology Centre.

VACCINE – she is very concerned that there has been no long-term testing of the vaccine, as there is supposed to be. In other words, they haven’t waited long enough to see what the effects will be. The last time there was an outbreak of swine flu, the mass vaccination programmes were discontinued when people started developing Guillan-Barre syndrome.

ASTHMATIC children – and specifically your son, Tanya – he is at risk because of his condition. You must weigh the risk of the vaccine against his risk of getting sick, especially if his asthma attacks are serious. At his age he is vulnerable because teenagers mingle so much. He is more likely to catch it than a toddler.

You have to consider if there have been cases in his environment, the school or your neighbourhood. If there have been cases in his school, it might be worth while removing him temporarily from the system (i’m guessing until they’ve removed the risk/sanitised the school). If your pediatrician has recommended it, and knows the boy and what his state of health is, she stands with him on this one.

Also, how is his general immunity? Does he respond well to antigens? Ask your doctor. There’s no point giving a vaccine if the patient can’t produce antibodies himself. He’ll just get sick. I also read (forgot to ask her) that there are 2 vaccines, one with fewer side effects. ask your doctor.

So if you think his risk is high of actually catching it, and his attacks are severe, the vaccine wold be the safer option.

PREGNANT WOMEN – she is VERY concerned about pregnant women being advised to take it, as the effects on the fetus can be VERY long term and there is no data on this. Be very wary. Remember what happened with thalidomide, ladies.

She says people who aren’t exposed , and who aren’t at high risk, shouldn’t bother taking it. Just protect yourself as you normally would and use common sense. Bottom line, she says the common seasonal flu kills way more people.

2. No surprise there. Raine is an awesome writer.

3. My favorites are: What are you laughing at, b*tch? and The president’s love bunny.

4. Never heard of The Help.

5. I hear you. I’m constantly asking myself, why am I wasting my time, then I say, Well, what the heck else are you going to do? Then that settles it.

6. The more I think about it, the more I suspect my son’s recent flu bout was triggered by the shot.

7. Totally agree. I hate the, I’m gonna do this and do that and then no follow through. If they say they’re going to do something, then they need to do it. If there’s the slightest possibility that they won’t or can’t then they need to be quiet.

Re: 10. Yeah, WTF exactly.

And I just can’t abide with the argument that publishing isn’t supposed to break these barriers.

Me neither, Mel. I also don’t buy the money argument the pubs give because to me it’s just a cop out for not doing what is right and decent. I’m still shaking my head over the Liar cover debacle.

Re your book … You need to send that thing out there. It’s not doing you any good sitting on your computer. If it’s not your best, that’s one thing, but if you’ve polished it to within an inch of its life, then there should be nothing stopping you. Think of it as moving on. I had to face the same thing and I’ve never felt better. It was a burden that has since lifted.

I’m still in the fence about the vaccine. DH has already made up his mind. He doesn’t want our son to get it. Since I’m the one who stays up with the boy all night during his asthma episodes, I know how bad it can get, which is why I’m so torn.