PREMIER CALLS FOR LARGER RESERVES OF FLU VACCINES IN TAIWAN.

TAIPEI, May 1 Asia Pulse - Premier Liu Chao-shiuan on Thursday urged biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Taiwan, which are capable of producing human vaccines, to begin developing a vaccine against swine flu as soon as possible.

Liu advised the companies to quickly acquire samples of the A/H1N1 swine flu virus strain from the United States so they can produce a swine flu vaccine locally, to help Taiwan acquire enough reserves to keep at bay the virus that emerged in Mexico last week.

"The government will purchase these newly-developed swine flu vaccines at reasonable prices," Liu said while presiding over an emergency meeting at the A/H1N1 Flu Central Command Center.

The command center was set up by the Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH) Tuesday in a bid to prevent a possible swine flu outbreak in Taiwan, as the virus continues to spread around the world.

Liu stressed that the country has enough reserves of medical supplies to fight a potential swine flu pandemic, but he warned individuals against attempting to hoard supplies.

"The administration will not be lenient toward those who hoard or seize the opportunity to make a fortune," he noted.

Meanwhile, Department ...