Apparently, he's "a communist" now...
Big Bird is facing backlash from anti-vaxers and conservatives after he and other Sesame Street residents received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Collaborating with CNN as part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, the street hosted a vaccine-oriented town hall special called
The ABCs of Covid Vaccines on Saturday, November 6.
Vaccinations for children between the ages of five and eleven are now underway in the US following the FDA's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the cohort.
According to the official Sesame description, the special was to feature "familiar faces from Sesame Street and experts from CNN and across the country" in order to "answer children’s questions about the Covid vaccine and staying healthy, and coping with big feelings as they continue to face unprecedented challenges in their young lives."
In the special, muppet Rosita, who had just received her first dose of the vaccine, told the hosts: “My mommy and my papi said that it will help keep me, my friends, my neighbours, my abuela all healthy.”
One host, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, replied that “the more people who get [vaccinated], the better we're going to be able to help stop the spread of Covid and keep everyone healthy.”
The doctor, alongside CNN's Erica Hill, also explained to Big Bird how the vaccine defends the body against "Covid germs".
Big Bird, who is supposed to be 6, later tweeted: "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!"
Other residents of the street also weighed in, including Elmo, who is supposed to be 3 and would therefore be too young for the vaccine.
https://twitter.com/elmo/status/1456978172352684033?s=20
https://twitter.com/Grover/status/1456981947196968967?s=20
https://twitter.com/OscarTheGrouch/status/1456986225315745805?s=20
https://twitter.com/bertsesame/status/1456974175961296902?s=20
https://twitter.com/bertsesame/status/1456974318559240194?s=20
https://twitter.com/bertsesame/status/1456974519801823235?s=20
https://twitter.com/bertsesame/status/1456975047428431873?s=20
The special and subsequent tweets began a surreal yet predictable push-back on social media from those against the vaccine.
While pro-vaxers praised the special for educating parents and reassuring kids, anti-vaxers – particularly in the US – accused it of being "government propaganda" (in the words of Texas Republican senator Ted Cruz) and more.
Arizona state Republican Senator Wendy Rogers added that "Big Bird is a communist."
Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe said Big Bird was "twisted" for "brainwashing children."
Then you had Tennessee Republican congressional candidate Robby Starbuck, who kept it light by writing: "*7 days later* Big blood clot Bird is served!" Nice.
As many pointed out though, it's not the first time the residents of Sesame Street have been introduced to vaccination. Big Bird himself learned all about the measles jab on screen back in 1972.
https://twitter.com/sesamestreet/status/1457747850985607175?s=20
Anyway Big Bird, don't worry too much about the hate: you've still got friends in high places...
https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1457525774530097152?s=20
