President Biden urges parents to have their 12 to 15-year-old children vaccinated against COVID-19

President Biden during remarks on Wednesday urged parents to have their children ages 12-15 get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"The bottom line is this: The vaccine for kids between the ages of 12 and 15 are safe, effective, easy fast and free. So my hope is that parents will take advantage of the vaccine and get their kids vaccinated," Biden said.

His comments came after a panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Wednesday in favor of recommending the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for use in youth within that age range. It was anticipated that the CDC director would sign off on the recommendation.

Biden also noted that he had recently spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that he would soon be releasing a statement about their conversation. The president remarked that "Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory."