If Elmo Can Get Vaccinated, So Can You

By Marisela Ramirez Guide Blogger

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via Peter van Broekhoven/Flickr

A PSA from the Department of Health and Human Services starring Elmo and the U.S Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, addresses the importance of vaccines among children.

View the story "The Surgeon General and Elmo Encourage Kids to Get Vaccinated" on StorifyThe Surgeon General and Elmo Encourage Kids to Get VaccinatedStorified by #HERchat· Wed, Apr 22 2015 22:01:25

A new video has been released by the U.S. Health and Human Services starring America's favorite muppet, Elmo and the U.S Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. The adorable video encourages kids to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the spread of preventable diseases.According to Diabetes Insider, the video was released on the same day that the recent measles outbreak that started in Disneyland over the holiday was declared over by the California State Department of Health.In the 30 second PSA Murthy explains, "It's my job to help people stay healthy," and when Elmo asks what he can do to help, Murthy states, "You can get all your vaccinations on time. Those are the shots that help you stay healthy."Like any child, Elmo was skeptical when it came to the word "shots". But Murthy comforts Elmo by reassuring him that, "It's just a little pinch. And it's safe."The video is worth showing to children who are afraid of needles and need a vaccination. Between it's silly jokes and Elmo's rendition of Taylor Swift's, "Shake It Off", the video almost makes getting a shot look like fun. The goal of the video is to boost vaccination rates. The outbreak of measles at Disneyland infected 147 people in the United States, 131 of whom live in California, most of whom had not been vaccinated according to CBS news."Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools we have for preventing disease and death," Murthy wrote in a blog post about the campaign as reported by CBS. Watch the full video here:Surgeon General and Elmo team up to talk vaccinationsdailydotvideoSources:1.) "US Surgeon General and Elmo From Sesame Street Encourage Children To Get Vaccinations", Shelly Fraley, Diabetes Insider, Apr 19 2015, http://diabetesinsider.com/us-surgeon-general-and-elmo-from-sesame-street-make-video-to-encourage-children-to-get-vaccinations/389932.) "Elmo Joins Surgeon General, Urges Kids to Get Vaccinated", CBS News, Apr 20 2015, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elmo-joins-surgeon-general-urges-kids-to-get...

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.