There was “a little pinch,” but otherwise Elmo was OK getting his COVID vaccine, the 3½-year-old “Sesame Street” character said in a public service announcement.
The PSA features Elmo and his dad, Louie, who said he had a lot of questions about the vaccine.
“Was it safe? Was it the right decision?’ I talked to our pediatrician so I could make the right choice,” Louie said in the PSA. “I learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep himself, our friends, neighbors and everyone else healthy and enjoying the things they love.”
The COVID vaccine has been available for children 5 and younger for weeks, but parents have been slow to get their kids the shot.
“We hope that Louie and Elmo will inspire parents and caregivers across the country to speak with their healthcare providers and seek out information to learn about how the COVID-19 vaccines can keep young children and their families healthy,” Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president of U.S. social impact at Sesame Workshop, told CNN said via email.
A “Sesame Street” tweet of the PSA was met with both delight and derision.
“This is why I love Sesame Street so much,” Edward Sanchez commented.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz retweeted the PSA, but not because he agreed with it.
In Georgia, fewer than 25% of children ages 5-11 have received the COVID vaccine as of June 16. Nationwide, that number is 36.2%.
As of June 22, however, there were 3,557 children under 17 who had been hospitalized for the virus.
Elmo isn’t the first “Sesame Street” resident to be vaccinated. Big Bird got his shots in November. In fact, the yellow Muppet has been receiving his vaccinations since he “was a little bird,” he tweeted.
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