Sesame Street's Big Bird Gets Covid Vaccine

Big Bird (and many of his fellow Sesame Street neighbors) got his Covid vaccine over the weekend and received a hearty congratulations from the leader of the free world as a result.

Big Bird, who is six years old on the show, tweeted about getting his vaccine on Saturday—which was the first day many children between the ages of 5-11 were finally able to start receiving their shots after the FDA approved the vaccine rollout for their age group last week.

“I got the COVID-19 vaccine today!” he wrote. “My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy.”

I got the COVID-19 vaccine today! My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy.

Ms. @EricaRHill even said I’ve been getting vaccines since I was a little bird. I had no idea!
— Big Bird (@BigBird) November 6, 2021

Though Big Bird received backlash from a few public figures who have made their anti-vaccine stance clear (*Austin Powers voice* Who bullies a Sesame Street character, honestly?).

But he did get a big shoutout from the President of the United States for getting his vaccine and helping other young children feel better about getting theirs, too.

Good on ya, @BigBird. Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep your whole neighborhood safe.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 8, 2021

“Good on ya, Big Bird,” President Biden responded. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep your whole neighborhood safe.”

Over the weekend, Sesame Street hosted a town hall special entitled “The ABCs of COVID Vaccines,” which streamed live on CNN. The special focused on answering children’s questions about the Covid vaccine and how to stay healthy, as well as helping them cope with their feelings about the pandemic and getting the shot.

Since the show premiered in 1969, Sesame Street has remained a powerful and positive cultural resource for its young viewers, and the way it has handled everything from the pandemic to racism during the last few years is no exception.

During the special, muppet Rosita received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Before getting her shot, Rosita tells Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN anchor Erica Hill, who hosted the town hall, “My mommy and my papi said that it will help keep me, my friends, my neighbors, my abuela all healthy.”

In the words of President Biden: Good on ya, Sesame Street.