Japan's health ministry plans to offer fourth coronavirus vaccine shots to healthcare workers and staff at facilities for the elderly from Friday amid a rapid resurgence of infections.

Currently, people who are eligible for a fourth shot are those aged 60 and older, those aged 18 and older with underlying diseases, and those aged at least 18 who are deemed by doctors to have a high risk of becoming seriously ill.

The ministry presented the plan to a panel of experts as a measure to prevent infections spreading at medical institutions as well as facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities.

If the plan is approved, the measure will take effect as early as Friday.
Pharmaceutical firms are currently developing new vaccines that will be effective against the highly contagious Omicron variants. The vaccines may become available as early as this autumn.

Ministry officials also told the panel they plan to start preparations to allow the elderly and others with a high risk of becoming seriously ill to receive the upgraded vaccines if they have been inoculated at least twice.