Sesame Street has its newest vaccinated neighbor: Elmo! A new PSA produced by Sesame Workshop, the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative’s COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative has just launched to share the cuddly red puppet’s experience.
The 60-second clip shows Elmo with his dad Louie, both sporting bandages. “You were super duper today, getting your COVID vaccine Elmo,” says Louie. “Yeah, there was a little pinch. But it was okay,” replies Elmo.
The PSA is another in a line of videos geared towards vaccinations, both for adults and children. It was produced in partnership with the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics and encourages parents to ask questions and stay informed about COVID-19 vaccines for their kids.
Like all parents, Louie had a lot of questions before taking Elmo for his vaccine. “Was it safe? Was it the right decision? 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,” he tells viewers.
The new PSA is available in both English and Spanish, along with additional bilingual resources for parents and caregivers that help prepare children for vaccinations and answer questions in an age-appropriate way. “Many parents understandably have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines for young children, and we want to encourage them to ask questions and seek out information. With help from Elmo and his dad Louie, we want to model real conversations, encourage parents’ questions, and help children know what to expect,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop.
You can catch the new PSA on YouTube now, and head to SesameStreetinCommunities.org/
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