There are plenty of problems with the online provincial vaccine booking program as people over 50 are eligible to book their third COVID-19 vaccine.

The province has opened up eligibility for those over 50, however online reports say with the estimated 3.4 million people eligible preparing to register, the system is stalled.

In Lambton, the online booking system is working but finding an appointment is another matter.

The Independent found the earliest appointment now available was Jan. 19 at the Wyoming Fairgrounds. There were also a handful of appointments available Jan. 21 in Point Edward. (At 10:30 am, there were three slots still available.) The clinic in Forest had no appointments available at all. Public health’s website says it is only booking 42 days in advance.

All this comes as the province reports 1,536 new cases of COVID-19 today. Last week, Ontario reported 887 cases; that’s 73 per cent increase.

There are 158 people in intensive care units in Ontario right now.

The new variant of concern, Omicron, now makes up 20 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in Ontario. That’s up from 10 per cent on Friday.

In Lambton, 17 new cases were reported with 77 people ill right now. There are five outbreaks including four in schools. John Knox Christian School in Wyoming is in outbreak with less than five cases as is St. Anne’s with seven cases, Bright’s Grove with less than five and St. Bartholomew’s Early Learning Centre with five cases.