AP – V is for vaccine.
Elmo got a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, according to Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organisation behind Sesame Street.
In a public service announcement posted to YouTube, the beloved three-and-a-half-year-old Sesame Street star talked with his dad about what it was like to get the shot.
“There was a little pinch, but it was okay,” Elmo said in the video.
Elmo’s dad said he had a lot of questions for the pediatrician, who assured him that vaccinations are safe and effective for children.
“Was it safe? Was it the right decision?’ I talked to our peadiatrician so I could make the right choice,” Louie said in the PSA. “I learnt that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep himself, our friends, neighbours and everyone else healthy and enjoying the things they love.”
COVID-19 vaccinations for the youngest Americans started last week. That means United States (US) kids under five – roughly 18 million youngsters – are eligible for the shots. US regulators authorised shots from Moderna and Pfizer. The Moderna vaccine is two doses and the Pfizer shot is three.
Last November, Big Bird got vaccinated – sparking criticism from some conservative politicians. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, called it “government propaganda”.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises vaccination even for those who already had COVID-19 to protect against reinfection, and said it is okay to get other vaccines at the same time.
