WATCH: Biden says it's a patriotic responsibility to wear a mask despite being vaccinated

The president told the NBC's Today of masking that "it's a small precaution to take that has a profound impact. It's a patriotic responsibility, for God sake."

Sitting well-distanced from NBC's Craig Melvin, President Biden was asked about the CDC's new guidance about "outdoor mask wearing." Melvin said that "alot of people are excited that if they've been double vaccinated they can shed these masks."

"Are you going to be one of these folks now? Are we no longer going to see the president of the United States outside with a mask on?"

"Sure, sure," Biden said, "but what I'm going to do though, because the likelihood of my being able to be outside and people not come up to me," he laughed, "is not very high."

"So look," Biden continued, "you and I took our masks off when I came in, because look at the distance we are, but if we were in fact sitting there talking to one another close, I'd have my mask on and I'd imagine you'd have your mask on even though we've both been vaccinated.

"And so it's a small precaution to take that has a profound impact. It's a patriotic responsibility, for God sake," Biden said.

"It's making sure your wife, your children, you're, if in fact they haven't been vaccinated, making sure that they're not going to get sick."

The CDC issued guidance this week that people who have been vaccinated don't have to wear face masks outdoors when they are around other people who have been vaccinated.

The CDC said that if you've been fully vaccinated, "You can gather or conduct activities outdoors without wearing a mask except in certain crowded settings and venues."

Biden announced that guidance, saying "I want to be absolutely clear, if you're in a crowd, like a stadium or a conference, or a concert, you still need to wear a mask. Even if you're outside. But beginning today," he said, that you can go outside and picnic with friends who have also been vaccinated without a face mask.

He said that scientists are "convinced by the data that the odds of getting or giving the virus to others is very very low if you've both been fully vaccinated and out in the open air."

Biden then encouraged everyone to get vaccinated so that they are able to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the return to normal life.

Speaking to reporters about the new guidance, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also pressed the message that the new guidance is an incentive to get vaccinated.