Elderly people in the Netherlands will be able to have a third shot against coronavirus from November, health minister Hugo de Jonge said on Tuesday, without making more details public.

The ‘oldest elderly’ in nursing homes may be top of the list for a third dose, De Jonge said. Currently, people with a weakened immune system are eligible for a third vaccination.

‘We are going to start a booster campaign, so then you think about the oldest of the elderly,’ he said. ‘Their immunity is reducing slightly, so it would be important to them… you don’t want problems in nursing homes again.’

Public health institute RIVM and the national health council are currently drawing up recommendations for third vaccinations. More details are likely to be made public on November 5, when De Jonge and prime minister Mark Rutte will hold a press conference about the coronavirus pandemic.