<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let me clarify the masking message that I garbled on <a href="https://twitter.com/NewDay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewDay</a> this morning. Vaccinated parents who live in communities with high COVID transmission rates should mask when out in public indoor settings to minimize risks to their unvaccinated kids. No need to mask at home.</p>— Francis S. Collins (@NIHDirector) <a href="https://twitter.com/NIHDirector/status/1422654529087189000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The Director of the National Institutes of Health told CNN on Tuesday morning that parents of unvaccinated children should wear masks in the home. "I know it seems weird, but it's the best way to protect your kids," he said. <blockquote>DR. FRANCIS COLLINS: It's clear that this variant is capable of causing serious illness in children. You heard those stories coming out of Louisiana pediatric ICUs, where there are kids as young as a few months old that are sick from this. That is rare... Anyone that says you don't have to worry about it if you are a young, healthy person, there are many counter examples. Yeah, you do need to think about it and that's the reason why the recommendations are, for kids under 12, that they avoid being in places where they might get infected, which means recommendations of mask-wearing in schools and at home. Parents of unvaccinated kids should be thoughtful about this and the recommendation is to wear masks there as well. I know that's uncomfortable. I know it seems weird, but it is the best way to protect your kids. </blockquote>