With the outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus across the world, disease prevention policies have been widely discussed. Some of the issues have proven controversial. But all sides are in agreement on the significance of vaccines in disease prevention.
Humans face new diseases and new epidemics. Vaccines have become a government’s most powerful weapon against disease.
Since vaccines are important, every developed country needs to have the capability to produce a massive amount of vaccines. Taiwan, however, has lagged behind in vaccine manufacturing. With a rising number of new influenza viruses in recent years, the difficulty of obtaining a vaccine when an epidemic breaks out highlights the need for a nation to be able to develop vaccines.
Who should we hold responsible for Taiwan’s lack of ability in this area?
The government has repeatedly declared its determination to manufacture and stockpile vaccines. But it has failed to come up with any concrete policies or strategies for doing so.
The Vaccine Research and Development Center of the National Health Research Institutes is the driving force of the nation’s vaccine industry. But it has trouble raising money every year because the government has neither clear nor definite policies and lacks commitment. Hence, the process from vaccine research and development to mass production in Taiwan is a long one. We are still unable to integrate technologies and resources to push vaccine manufacturing in an orderly fashion.
Taiwan has been lucky that it has not been severely affected by the A(H1N1) virus and we have a whole summer to prepare for the next peak influenza season in the fall and winter. The US and European countries have placed orders for A(H1N1) vaccines and the WHO has met weekly with vaccine manufacturers since early last month to discuss how to provide vaccine strains in the shortest time possible.
Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) announced late last month that the government would buy 7.5 million doses of vaccines from local manufacturers and 2.5 million doses from foreign companies.
Despite his announcement, some people have said that even if local manufacturers are capable of produing vaccines themselves, the government does not have to purchase their products. Such comments are worrisome.
Taiwan’s disease prevention efforts need to include the launch of a high-level government unit that can effectively activate the overall disease prevention mechanism. It should be responsible for manufacturing vaccines, including schedules and quality control, as well as fundraising.
But time is running out. Even ignoring the A(H1N1) problem, a new disaster could strike anytime. We must work together to develop vaccine manufacturing capability and plan for the future.
Lee Ming-liang is president emeritus of Tzu Chi University.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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