The Japanese government plans to shorten the interval between the second and third coronavirus vaccinations for medical workers, senior citizens and others.

Japan began administering booster doses to healthcare personnel on December 1. The list of those eligible for booster shots is set to expand from next month.

Individuals are currently eligible for booster shots eight months after receiving their second doses. An interval of six months is allowed as an exception for those related to medical institutions and elder-care facilities where cluster infections have occurred.

But Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has expressed his intention to reduce the interval as much as possible.

Speaking before an Upper House committee on Thursday, he said the government will lay out the full picture of its updated booster vaccination program and present it to municipalities as early as possible so they can smoothly proceed with their inoculation plans.

The government now plans to shorten the interval to six months for individuals such as healthcare professionals, long-term hospital patients and residents of elder-care facilities. More than 10 million individuals will be eligible for their third shot after six months.

Other elderly people will likely become eligible for booster shots in February if they have had their second doses at least seven months earlier.

The government says it has enough doses for booster vaccinations after the shorter intervals. It says it will use its existing stockpile along with the supplies it will get for the current timeline.

In a related move, the government is also preparing to allow people who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons to take PCR tests free of charge without reservations. It hopes to launch the system in all prefectures by the end of this month.

The prime minister is set to unveil the new booster plan and free testing system on Friday. He will also announce the outlook for securing doses of a COVID-19 oral drug.