The time between the first and second shots of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines could be as long as eight weeks for certain individuals, according to new vaccination guidelines released on Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, the vaccinations are still safe and efficient at their original intervals, but extending the period may help minimize the risk of myocarditis, a kind of heart inflammation, in some patient groups. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, people are far more likely to suffer from myocarditis after contracting COVID than after receiving vaccinations. Previous guidelines had stated that the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine should be delivered three weeks after the first shot, while the Moderna vaccine needed to be administered four weeks after the first injection.
