Joe Biden has said that children should wear face masks whenever they leave the house - even if outdoors - to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.
The president on Monday held a press conference to celebrate the FDA's final approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
But even as he delivered good news, he angered some with his advice.
'So let me say this to parents. You have the tools. You have the tools to keep your child safer. And two of those tools above all are available to you,' he said.
'One: make sure everyone around your child who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents, adults, teens.
'Two: make sure your child is masked when they leave home. That's how we can best keep our kids safe.'
Children in Miami are pictured on Monday wearing face masks as they return to school. Miami-Dade County has defied Governor Ron DeSantis's orders, and insisted that schoolchildren wear face masks. Biden on Monday said all children should, when leaving the house
Joe Biden on Monday said that children should wear face masks when leaving the house
Biden said that he was aware that 'parents are concerned about COVID-19 cases among their children', and said that he and Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, are discussing 'how to get our kids back to school safely.'
He continued: 'Cases among children are still rare. And severe cases among children are very, very rare.
'I know that for parents thinking about their own kids, it's not as reassuring as anyone would like it to be.'
The president also urged American companies to begin ordering staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Major companies like Amtrak, Walt Disney and Walmart have already required their workers to be immunized and the Pentagon have said they will mandate all troops.
But Biden's calls for all companies to make their requirements stricter is likely to face calls of federal government overreach and legal challenges.
A mobile billboard truck displays messages for the Orange County Public Schools board during a protest in favor of masks, in front of the OCPS headquarters in downtown Orlando on Monday
Winston Wallace, 9, raises his hand in class at iPrep Academy on the first day of school in Miami on Monday
Students at Barbara Coleman Senior High School in Miami walk to the campus on their first day of school on Monday
States including Florida and Texas have already fought back against vaccine mandates and believe it is a personal choice to get the shot.
Biden, speaking at the White House, portrayed it as a huge victory even though it will be of limited practical value months after the vaccination received emergency approval.
Even so, he spoke directly to what he said were 'millions' of Americans who may have been waiting for full approval before trusting the jab - even though the shots have been going in arms since December 2020.
'It has now happened,' Biden said. 'The moment you’ve been waiting for is here. It’s time for you go get your vaccine.
'Get it today.'
Joe Biden urged Americans to get vaccinated amid FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine
After delivering his good news on vaccinations, Biden headed straight for the exit ignoring questions about Afghanistan
The FDA announcement was a welcome bit of good news for an administration that has been battered by weeks of negative headlines and remains under intense pressure as the clock runs down on the president's August 31 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan
He pointed to a pickup in the pace of vaccinations amid a spike in hospitalizations and deaths among the unvaccinated.
'The FDA approval is the gold standard,' Biden said, amid information showing about a third of eligible Americans have declined to get the vaccine.
Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law, told CNBC that firms may have felt wary of implementing full vaccine mandates until the shot got approval, even though they had the legal authority.
But he also avoided the issue that is provoking still unanswered questions, declining to respond to reporters who shouted questions about the crowded scenes at Kabul airport.
Among the questions he didn't take: How many
