What you should know about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine 0:56
(CNN) -
The CEO of Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday that people may need an annual dose of the Covid-19 vaccine for many years to be protected against variants of the virus.
"Unfortunately, as (the virus) spreads, it can also mutate," Alex Gorsky told CNBC's Meg Tirrell on Tuesday during the Healthy Returns Spotlight event of that cadema.
“Every time it mutates, it's almost like tune-up, so to speak, where we can see another variant, another mutation that may have an impact on its ability to defend itself against antibodies, or a different type of response not only to treatment but also to the vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization for its vaccine on Thursday.
Johnson & Johnson asks FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine
The importance of the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine 1:02
Experts say that J & J's Covid-19 vaccine has advantages over others, as it is a single dose and can be stored at regular refrigerated temperatures.
Pfizer and Moderna licensed vaccines require two doses.
The Pfizer vaccine must be kept at very low temperatures.
Clinical trials showed that J & J's covid-19 vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate and severe illness.
It was 85% effective overall in preventing hospitalization and 100% in preventing death in all regions where it was tested.
The vaccine has also been tested against some of the variants.
In South Africa it was 57% effective and in Latin America it was 66%.
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- The FDA could authorize the J&J vaccine later this month.
Coronavirus Vaccine
