WELLINGTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- New Zealanders who are at high risk of getting very sick from a COVID-19 infection will soon be eligible to receive a second booster, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Friday.
A second booster dose may be beneficial for those most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and with a gap of six months from their previous booster. The vast majority of these people become eligible from July, according to the Ministry of Health.
"A booster is important for our most vulnerable as we move into the winter peak," said a ministry statement, adding that several hundred thousand people will be eligible, which includes the older population, residents of aged care facilities and disability care facilities aged 16 years and over, and severely immunocompromised people.
New Zealand recorded 6,862 new community cases of COVID-19 and 25 more deaths, the ministry said on Friday. ■