Austin, Texas – As Texas closes in on 10 million people vaccinated, the state plans to open up appointments to anyone over the age of 16 starting March 29. Yet there are still a number of factors making it difficult to get an appointment.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced in a press release that Covid-19 vaccines will now be available to anyone over the age of 16 by appointment.

The department is still asking that vaccination locations and pharmacies prioritize those over the age of 80, even if they're walk-ins without appointments.

Those who have qualified long before now reported their frustration with the process of actually getting an appointment.

Many vaccine providers in the state, like H-E-B and CVS Pharmacy, have been showing openings on their online platforms, only to inform people they're no longer available after they've clicked on the link to book one.

Houston resident and nurse practitioner Catherine Hoose told TAG24 she was lucky enough to get her parents an appointment for the vaccine by "stalking" websites after the state last expanded eligibility, noting that the 1,300 additional openings in the city filled within minutes.

Now that the requirements allow anyone above the age of 16 to book an appointment, Hoose said things might get more difficult before they get better.

"If you aren’t attached to your phone and tech-savvy, you are at a huge disadvantage," she said.

After the surge of people trying to book appointments slows down and more vaccines become available, she's hopeful that it will get easier to book an appointment without having to constantly refresh web pages for hours.

Opening up the eligibility doesn't mean the state has enough vaccines for the 22 million people who are now entitled to it, adding to the ongoing distribution problem in Texas.