Preteens anxiously wait for vaccine eligibility in school year

Karen Notzon's daughter, Callie, began her first year of middle school this fall by opting out of in-person learning after initially deciding to return to the classroom.

The Huntington Beach, California, mother told ABC News there were many reasons why her daughter changed her decision -- including the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the U.S. linked to the delta variant -- but one of the biggest ones was that a particular circumstance left Callie ineligible for vaccination in time for classes.

The pre-teen turns 12 in November, and is not eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine like some of her other classmates who had birthdays before her this year, Notzon said.