First lady Jill Biden and actress Jennifer Garner teamed up in us-regionsus-regionson Thursday to visit a vaccination site at a local high school.
Biden, 69, landed in Charleston at around 2 p.m. and exited her plane without a mask on — in a nod to the new federal guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The “Alias” star, who grew up in West Virginia, was wearing a black mask to match her outfit, but took it off to greet the first lady, who had on a white dress and pink blazer.
“We feel naked,” Biden quipped about going maskless, adding after a pause, “I didn’t mean it that way!”
The two women, who know each other from their work with the organization Save the Children, were joined by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who traveled with the first lady.
Actress Jennifer Garner speaks during a visit with first lady Jill Biden to a vaccination center at Capital High School in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, May 13, 2021. (Oliver Contreras/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
A group of junior Reserve Officer Training Corps officers greeted the group as they arrived at Capital High School in Charleston, and the first lady told them that President Biden’s late son, Beau, was in the Army National Guard.
“I know you just want to see Jennifer Garner,” she joked with them.
“They’ve seen me their whole lives!” Garner, 49, exclaimed. “Thank you for your service, kids.”
The two then visited with children who were getting their shots in the school gymnasium, a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 jab for kids ages 12 to 15.
Asked if she had any words of advice for fellow mothers, Garner, who has three children with actor Ben Affleck, told moms to hang in there. She also said she was looking forward to getting her own kids vaccinated and noted that she was visiting her rival high school.
First lady Jill Biden greets Mark Shriver and Jennifer Garner as she arrives in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, May 13, 2021. (Oliver Contreras/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Inside the gym, Biden held the hand of a teenager getting vaccinated, and then asked the girl if she knew the Golden Globe winner.
“Yes, I love all your movies,” the teen gushed, as Garner congratulated her on getting vaccinated.
Manchin noted the new CDC guidelines stating that vaccinated people can now ditch their masks indoors, saying, “It means get vaccinated!”
“We feel free!” Manchin added.
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He encouraged West Virginians to keep their vaccination cards on them and said he would raise questions about the possibility of fraudulent vaccine cards.
Garner and the first lady were supposed to visit Birmingham, Ala. together last month to promote the recent expansion of child tax credits, but the star bailed over inclement weather.
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