By Michael Erman

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – U.S. officials said Friday that they will consider increasing the interval between two doses the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccinations to eight weeks. This would lower heart disease and increase their effectiveness.

Sara Oliver (a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official) said Dr. Sara Oliver suggested that it be made. Moderna (NASDAQ:). Pfizer/BioNTech photos during a meeting the Advisory Committee on Immunizing Practices. This is a group of advisors outside the CDC.

The recommended time between two shots is approximately ten seconds in the United States. Pfizer (NYSE) Moderna’s vaccine lasts for three weeks, while Moderna’s takes four.

Dr. Oliver stated that a longer interval seems to lower the chance of developing myocarditis in rare cases. She also said that eight-week intervals of vaccination would result in the lowest rate of inflammation of the heart.

Myocarditis, a side effect of mRNA vaccinations (the technology behind Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech shots), is rare. This appears to be more prevalent in young men.

Oliver said that the longer interval seems to boost vaccine efficacy.

Oliver stated that if the agency changes the interval recommended, some people may still prefer the shorter gap, especially groups for whom the benefits of COVID-19 protection earlier than the risk of myocarditis.

This would be a late move in the U.S. vaccine campaign as over 212 million Americans have been fully vaccinated according to government data.

Oliver explained that the United States still has around 33 million people who are not vaccinated between 12 and 39 years old. That is the age bracket which puts them at higher risk for developing myocarditis.

Canadian health officials presented earlier data to the group on why they decided on an interval of eight weeks between shots for the vaccines.