A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is said to be nearly 95% effective, according to early data from US company Moderna.

The positive report comes just days after Pfizer reported similar results, adding to growing confidence that the pandemic may soon be able to come under control globally with the help of vaccines.

The inclusion of high-risk and elderly people in the Moderna trial suggested the vaccine would protect those most vulnerable to the disease, said Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, who described the results as “tremendously exciting”.

Moderna says it is a “great day” and they plan to apply for approval to use the vaccine in the next few weeks.

Moderna said it could potentially manufacture 1 billion doses by the end of 2021, adding to a further 1.3 billionn from Pfizer/BioNTech in the same timeframe.

Both vaccines require two doses and are due to be assessed by regulators in coming weeks.