Big Bird from Sesame Street tweeted that it had received the COVID-19 vaccination.
Right-wingers including Senator Ted Cruz criticized the character's promotion of "propaganda” to children.
Sesame Street's campaign follows the approval of COVID-19 for children aged 5-11.
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After the character's tweet account claimed it had received the vaccine, Sen. Ted Cruz and others from the right-wing criticized Sesame Street’s Big Bird.
"I received the COVID-19 vaccination today!" "My wing is feeling a little sore but it'll give me an extra protective boost that keeps us all healthy," Big Bird wrote on Twitter. He has 217,000 followers.
"Ms. @EricaRHill even stated that I have been receiving vaccines since I was a baby bird. I had no idea!" Big Bird spoke in reference to Erica Hill, a CNN journalist.
A number of Sesame street characters, including Big Bird, participated in a CNN Town Hall event to answer questions from families and children about the COVID-19 vaccination. This vaccine was approved for children aged 5-11 years.
Experts from the FDA voted that vaccine benefits outweigh risks for children in elementary school.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz responded critically to Big Bird's tweet accusing him of propagandism.
He wrote, "Government propagandafor your 5-year-old!"
Steve Cortes, Newsmax host, went one step further and called Big Bird's comment "evil."
This kind of propaganda is actually very harmful. Statistics do not show that your children are at high risk. Therefore, they should not be forced to try a new treatment. Don't comply!
Other right-wing figures, including Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe, and alt-right political commentator Michael Cernovich, also tweeted their disapproval of the Sesame Street character.
Right-wing figures have criticised Big Bird and Sesame Street for their decision to promote COVID-19, but the character has been involved in public healthcare campaigns since long.
Big Bird appeared in 1972 on a segment encouraging children to "don't wait - get vaccinated."
