Taiwan is recieving a boost to its economy with the arrival of GlaxoSmithKline considered to be one of the biggest and best vaccine producers worldwide, setting up a bird flu vaccine making laboratory in the country. GlaxoSmithKline at present is the biggest vaccine producer in Taiwan having nearly one quarter of the the market under its control. GlaxoSmithKline won the concession to set up the vaccine facility after a contest involving three other competing drug companies.

Vaccine production facilities need to be very versatile as flu viruses can change from season to season and so the vaccines need to be very up to date at all times. The importance of flu vaccine production at this time can not be over stressed with the very likely possibility of a bird flu pandemic hitting the world. The desire to be in a position to react very quickly and effectively is behind the Taiwan government's reasons taking the decision to have a vaccine producer on its soil.

Having a local vaccine producing facility means that the Taiwan will not be dependent on the imports of Tamiflu and like drugs but will be able to produce their own should the need arise. Bird flu in its latest form is very deadly to humans and has killed about 50% of those infected with it. The latest type of bird flu is called the H5N1 flu strain and its symptoms can be counteracted by an early and proper dose of Tamiflu.