A bunch of adults are kicking off on social media after Sesame Street's Elmo got vaccinated for Covid-19.
The educational children's show put together a short video to help little ones feel a bit better about getting the jab, and it turns out it's made a whole bunch of anti-vaxx grown-ups quite angry.
Sesame Street shared the public service announcement on Twitter, with the text: "It's okay to have questions about Covid-19 vaccines for children."
The tweet added: "Elmo's dad Louie talked to their paediatrician, and learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep him and his whole neighbourhood safe and healthy."
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Louie asked his fuzzy, red son in the short video: "Was it safe? Was it the right decision?"
Elmo's dad added: "I talked to our paediatrician so I could make the right choice.
"I learned that Elmo getting vaccinated is the best way to keep himself, our friends, neighbours and everyone else healthy and enjoying the things they love."
Well, apparently even consulting a paediatrician about any concerns is also frowned upon by the anti-vax community, because they've cracked it big time.
One user commented: "Shame on you Sesame Street (a show I used to love as a kid and for my kids) trying to manipulate children's minds for something that could seriously harm or kill them."
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A second person tweeted: "I remember when Sesame Street was cool. Now they are just another shill for the mainstream narrative training kids with propaganda. What a shame. Jim Henson would NOT approve."
A third added: "I miss the REAL Sesame Street. The one I grew up with. Just educational, fun stuff. No propaganda."
That last one did not go down well, with another user replying with a video of Big Bird getting a vaccine decades ago.
"Big Bird promoted vaccination in 1972, hon," they said in response to the anti-vaxx comment.
Others took to social media to point out that Elmo's PSA is quite a good thing for kids.
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One user said: "I don’t know why people would be upset about this. 'Take medicine so you don’t get sick' is one of the most important things a child learns about the world."
A second said: "I’m proud of Elmo for getting vaccinated ... I don’t care what anti-vaxxers say, this is not 'propaganda', this is a PSA."
Sesame Street's PSA has coincided with American authorities giving the big green light for young kids to get the coronavirus jab.
Children as young as six months of age were approved to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the US from June, according to CNN.
Featured Image Credit: @sesamestreet/Twitter.Topics: Coronavirus, News
