Young Muppet Elmo proudly got his coronavirus vaccine weeks after the United States made the injections widely available to children under five.
I have hairy red Sesame Street resident, who is three and a half years old since 1984, acknowledged in his signature falsetto voice that there was “a little pinch, but it was OK”.
His Muppet father, Louie, told Elmo, who wore a green bandage on his arm, that he was “super-duper” while he was getting his shot.
“I had a lot of questions about Elmo getting the Covid vaccine. Was it safe? Was it the right decision? I spoke to our pediatrician so I could make the right choice,” Louie told the camera on Tuesday in a clip shared online on Tuesday. “I’ve learned that vaccinating Elmo is the best way to keep themselves, our friends, neighbors and everyone else healthy and enjoy the things they love,” he adds, before hugging Elmo.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz shared the clip on Twitter — criticizing the popular children’s show for allowing Elmo to “aggressively advocate the vaccination of children UNDER 5”. I added, “You are NOT citing any scientific evidence for this.” The internet was quickly filled with comments about Cruz vs. Elmo, with one person tweeting, “I’m here for the right-wing collapse because a doll has been vaccinated.”
The US Food and Drug Administration this month granted emergency use approval for coronavirus vaccines for young children. It has approved two vaccines – one from Moderna and the other from Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech – for smaller doses than adults.
Cruz, along with other Republicans, sought more answers from the government before approving vaccines for children in this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announcing their recommendation, said the childhood vaccines have undergone “the most intensive safety monitoring in US history.”
This isn’t the first time Cruz has had a high profile Sesame Street star. He criticized Big Bird last year, when the yellow-feathered creature received his coronavirus shot – a breakup that led to a Saturday Night Live parody. “My wing feels a little sore, but it will give my body an extra protective boost that will keep me and others healthy,” said Big Bird, six, after his shot. Cruz tweeted that the act was “government propaganda”.
President Joe Biden weighed in, tweeting, “Good job @BigBird. Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep your entire neighborhood safe.” In a statement, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, said the public service ad featuring Elmo was part of a series of resources for parents and carers to “answer common questions in age-appropriate ways.” Some on Twitter denounced Cruz for tweeting about the popular children’s show during the Jan. 6 committee hearings. “Why is a US senator watching? Sesame Street instead of doing his job?” one wrote.
Some parents said the show inspired their own children: “Thanks, Elmo! My little girl just got her first dose! I’ll share your video too.” (© Washington Post)