Wim Wu / Shanghai Daily News

On December 20 the State Research Center for Viro-Biotech Engineering and the Shanghai Sanshen Hongye Investment Group established a long-term plan for a vaccine production project.  The first phase of the project will see an annual output of 10 million units of vaccine.
This year the global flu epidemic will pose the greatest flu threat to China in 40 years.  Although experts suggest that 200 million Chinese should be vaccinated against the flu the current production of vaccine is only 10 million units nationwide.
The last major global flu outbreak occured in 1968.
According to Mr Hou Yunde, chief official with the State Research Center for Vior-Biotech Engineering having a vaccination is not a guarantee a person will not have the flu.
Awareness of the importance of having a flu vaccination must also be increased as only 15 million units have been distributed this year.  Some experts suggest that those over 60, children, the sick and all medical personal should receive the vaccinations before January or February.