Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Thursday evening that the government will expand the scope of eligibility for a fourth COVID-19 vaccination shot to include medical workers, as the nation faces a seventh wave of the pandemic.

“To protect the elderly and those at higher risk of becoming seriously ill, and to ensure there are enough health care workers available, about 8 million medical workers and nursing facility staff will receive a fourth shot,” Kishida said in a news conference.

At present, eligibility for the fourth shot is limited to people 60 and older as well as anyone between 18 and 59 with underlying health conditions.