Yomiuri and Sankei wrote that Kono Taro, the minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, said at an Upper House committee meeting on Thursday that the GOJ is preparing to offer third shots of COVID-19 vaccine to medical workers, referring to a decision by the United States government to offer booster shots eight months after the second shot. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato separately told reporters on Thursday that the GOJ will make a final decision after collecting relevant information about booster shots.