Wellington, May 27 (IANS): People of New Zealand who are at high risk of getting very sick from a Covid-19 infection will soon be eligible to receive a second booster shot, a Minister said here on Friday.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Friday that a second booster dose may be beneficial for those most at risk of serious illness from the virus and with a gap of six months from their previous booster, reports Xinhua news agency.

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 has so far reported 1,136,708 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 1,087 deaths.