Nearly 40 per cent of people eligible to have a COVID-19 vaccine have their first jab.

That’s according to statistics from Lambton Public Health.

Officials say 45,341 people have received at least their first shot – that’s about 39 per cent of the people over 16. Vaccines have yet to be approved for children.

Scientists say about 70 per cent of the population needs to be vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus.

And Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade says COVID-19 is still lurking around Lambton County. In the last two days 29 more people have tested positive for the virus here. There are 76 people actively ill with COVID-19 in the region and 12 more people are listed as recovered.

The outbreak at the Lambton College Residence continues to grow with 12 students now ill – up from 10.

There are also two workplace outbreaks, one with nine people who have tested positive.

Across Ontario, another 3,871 people are COVID-19 positive Thursday and another 41 people have died.

Statsitics show 2,248 are hospitalized with 884 in ICU.