A White House nurse prepares to administer the H1N1 vaccine to President Barack Obama at the White House December 20, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The President first divulged that he received the vaccination during an interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks in the Oval Office today.

“People need to understand that this vaccine is safe,” Obama said. “Michelle and I just got the shots ourselves… we wanted to make sure nationwide that children were getting it before adults did. And now there’s enough vaccine so that adults should get it as well. “

The President spoke about how his daughters received the vaccine in October, when it was first being made available to school-age children. He said that it’s important for parents to vaccinate their children.

“That’s the most important population because this flu, unlike seasonal flu, disproportionately affects children and young people — healthy children and young people as well as people with underlying conditions like asthma or neurological diseases. So it is so important and, frankly, the African American vaccination rate has been lower, substantially lower so far than the general population,” he said. “I think people just need to understand: If I had the two people that are most important in my life, my two daughters, get it right away — and they’ve been just fine with it and in fact haven’t gotten sick this entire flu season — then you need to know that you need to make sure your children get it as well.”

Obama received his vaccine yesterday in the White House residence from a nurse with the White House Medical Unit. The First lady received hers a few days prior, the White House says.

The First Daughters – Malia and Sasha – received theirs on October 27th after it became available to Washington, DC schoolchildren. The White House then said the president and First Lady would wait until the needs of priority target groups — young people under 24, pregnant women, and people with underlying conditions — received theirs first.

“We think it’s the right thing to do. We will stand in line like everybody else. And when folks say it’s our turn, that’s when we’ll get it,” Mr. Obama said.

All four members of the family also previously received the seasonal flu shot.