Elmo gets COVID vaccine in 'Sesame Street' video: 'There was a little pinch, but it was OK'

COVID-19 vaccines are making their way to Elmo's World.

Elmo got a COVID-19 vaccine and shared his experience in a video encouraging parents to vaccinate their younger kids, too, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street" shared on Tuesday.

The beloved, 3-and-a-half-year-old red muppet talked with his dad about what it was like to get the shot in a public service announcement posted to YouTube.

“There was a little pinch, but it was OK,” Elmo said in the video, after showing off the "super duper" bandage on his furry arm.

Elmo’s dad, Louie, noted that he had a lot of questions for the family's pediatrician, who assured him that the COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective for children.

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“Was it safe? Was it the right decision?′ I talked to our pediatrician so I could make the right choice,” Louie said in the video. “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.”

Last week, COVID-19 vaccinations for the youngest Americans begun. That means U.S. kids under 5 – about 18 million children – are eligible for the shots.

Shots from Moderna and Pfizer were authorized U.S. regulators earlier this month. The Moderna vaccine is two doses and the Pfizer shot is three.

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Sesame Workshop created Tuesday's Elmo PSA in collaboration with the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative’s COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative. It was also produced in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“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,” Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president of U.S. social impact at Sesame Workshop, said in a statement in a Tuesday news release.

"COVID vaccination for this age group is one more tool parents now have in their toolbox to help their children thrive," added AAP Dr. President Moira Szilagyi.

Elmo isn't the only "Sesame Street" star who's gotten a COVID vaccine. Last November, 6-year-old Big Bird also got vaccinated.

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Both Elmo and Big Bird's vaccinations have sparked criticism from some conservative politicians. In November, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, called Big Bird's vaccination “government propaganda.” Cruz similarly criticized Elmo's PSA on Twitter Tuesday – writing that "Sesame Street" was "aggressively" advocating for vaccinating children under 5.

The CDC advises vaccination even for those who already had COVID-19 to protect against reinfection, and says it is OK to get other vaccines at the same time.

"Sesame Street" is produced by Sesame Workshop and airs on HBO. After a delayed window, the show is also made available to PBS and its member stations at no cost.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elmo gets COVID shot in vaccine PSA, Ted Cruz criticizes Sesame Street