Sesame Street uses Elmo to hype COVID vaccines for 3-year-olds

nypost.com:

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the iconic kids show “Sesame Street,” shared a new PSA on Twitter and Youtube.The now-viral campaign comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the use of the COVID-19 vaccine to children 5-years-old and younger earlier this month.“It’s okay to have questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children!” the tweet is captioned. “Elmo’s dad Louie talked to their pediatrician, and learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep him and his whole neighborhood safe and healthy!”It's okay to have questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children!

Elmo's dad Louie talked to their pediatrician, and learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep him and his whole neighborhood safe and healthy! #CaringForEachOther pic.twitter.com/aWkCfysJPEThe now-viral PSA shows the eternal 3-year-old describing the jab as “a little pinch” to his father Louie who questioned the safeness of the vaccine. “”Was it safe?

Was it the right decision?” asked Louie. “I talked to our pediatrician so I could make the right choice. 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.”Elmo has since stated that he is “ready for all of the hugs” after getting the jab.The PSA — which racked up more than 590,000 Twitter views in less than 24 hours — promptly elicited negative reactions from some online commenters. “Thanks, @sesamestreet for saying parents are allowed to have questions!

You then have @elmo aggressively advocate for vaccinating children UNDER 5,” tweeted Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.“I remember when Sesame Street was cool.