Big Bird, a resident on Sesame Street with a long history of promoting health and wellness for children, tweeted that he received the COVID-19 vaccine last week.

It came days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5-11.

But while President Joe Biden congratulated the fictional bird for keeping his neighborhood safe, some Republicans took the opportunity to call Big Bird’s announcement “government propaganda.”

Robby Starbuck, a Republican running for Congress in Tennessee, joked that Big Bird was killed by the shot and then served as dinner seven days later.

Sesame Street, possibly reacting to the online backlash, on Monday posted a clip of Big Bird learning about vaccines and receiving a measles shot back in 1972.

According to the FDA, COVID-19 cases in children 5 through 11 years of age make up 39% of [COVID-19] cases in individuals younger than 18 years of age.

“According to the CDC, approximately 8,300 COVID-19 cases in children 5 through 11 years of age resulted in hospitalization. As of Oct. 17, 691 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the U.S. in individuals less than 18 years of age, with 146 deaths in the 5 through 11 years age group.”

The FDA says the vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children 5 through 11. 

You can make an appointment to get vaccinations here.

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