By Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus - UK has ordered 40 million doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine that is expected to be put to use next week.

In reference to the BBC news report, immunisations could start within days for those who need it the most, such as elderly people in care homes since the ordered doses are enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

The vaccine is a new type called mRNA that uses a tiny fragment of genetic code from the pandemic virus to teach the body how to fight COVID-19 and build immunity.

The mRNA vaccine has never been approved for use in humans before, although people have received them in clinical trials.

Several other vaccines could also be approved soon. One of which is the Moderna vaccine that  uses the same mRNA approach as the Pfizer vaccine.

Despite the discovery of new vaccines that have been or are yet to be approved, masses are advised to continue to observe the guidelines as advised by health experts, that is by keeping the social distance, wearing masks and sanitizing or washing hands.