On January 1, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) vaccine production facility was formally in shut-down. In order to preserve the historical records of the government-manufactured vaccine research and development in the past 100 years in Taiwan, Taiwan CDC set out to publish a book entitled “One Hundred Years of Glory and Century of Continuity” and hold a media conference on January 13, 2015 to introduce it to the public. The press conference was attended by Chiang Been-huang, Minister of Health and Welfare, and many people who had ever helped and participated in the government-manufactured vaccine production, including Chang Po-ya and Chan Chi-hsien, both former Ministers of Department of Health (DOH); Dr. Lee Chin-yun , professor of the pediatrics at the College of Medicine under National Taiwan University; Horng Chi-byi, former director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine; Chang Feng-yi, former director of Taiwan CDC; Liao Ching-len, director of the National Health Research Institute (NHRI) of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology; Liao Ming-yi, Taiwan CDC first director of the Vaccine Development. All were witnesses and wonderful participants who contributed to the research and development of serums and vaccines over the past century.

Taiwan CDC Director-General Kuo Hsu-sung said that the history of government-manufactured vaccine production in Taiwan can be traced back to the period of Japanese occupation in the 19th century. The Central Institute of Taiwan Governor was responsible for vaccine research and production. Since then, Taiwan has successfully manufactured vaccines not only to improve the control of infectious diseases in Taiwan, but also help other countries in fighting against infectious diseases. During the 1961-1963 cholera outbreak spreading through Asia, the cholera vaccines produced in Taiwan were available not only to supply the demand in Taiwan, but also that in other neighboring countries--Taiwan donated millions doses of vaccines to the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore in controlling the pandemic cholera. Taiwan’s government-manufactured vaccine has proven an effective tool to protect public health and demonstrate our nation’s ability in playing a meaningful international role.

In the 1990s, which is also the late period of the Institute of Preventive Medicine and the period of Taiwan CDC, Taiwan launched the In-House Synthesized Human Vaccine Production Program in accordance with the DOH’s policy. The team of the Program assisted the planning and establishing of the NHRI pilot plant. Via the pilot plant, Taiwan CDC–developed the technology in producing the attenuated vaccines, including the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, the flu vaccines and the Enterovirus 71 vaccine, which is transferred successfully to the Adimmune Corporation, Medigen Biotechnology Corp. and other civil or academic institutions. As a result, the development of the relevant biotechnological industries in the nation was helped and fostered in an indirect way. Taiwan CDC Director-General Kuo Hsu-sung said that when the vaccine production facility stopped producing vaccines in 2014, the manufacturingdevices were sent to other institutes. In the future, the industries, government agencies and the educational institutes will establish a mechanism for co-operation and continue to ensure the people in Taiwan live without fear of life-threatening diseases.

From the Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the 1960s, the hepatitis B vaccine developed during the 1980s until the recent free seasonal flu vaccination campaign that is launched in October every year, vaccines are an important part of the infectious disease prevention and control efforts. “100 Years of Glory and Century of Continuity” is an introduction to the 100-year glorious history of the government-manufactured vaccine production in Taiwan, and more importantly, a book of memories and gratitude to all the pioneers who established the basis for disease prevention and public health in Taiwan.