AstraZeneca said on Monday its vaccine for the novel coronavirus, developed along with the University of Oxford, has shown an average efficiency of 70 percent in protecting against the virus in two study segments.

"This vaccine's efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency," AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said in a statement.

The results ranged between 62- and 90-percent efficacy depending on the vaccine dosage.

The announcement comes after other trials of vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna announced effectiveness above 90 percent. 

(With input from Reuters, AFP)