Advice of the Day: Surgeon General Tells Elmo Why He Needs a Vaccination

Anti-vaxxers just got schooled by a little red muppet.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Sesame Street and The Daily Dot have teamed up in a new PSA about why vaccinations are so important.

In the 3-minute clip, Murthy explains to Elmo, who initially isn’t so keen on getting a shot, why he needs one if he wants to stay healthy. He compares it to wearing a bicycle helmet or carrying an umbrella when it rains.

Murthy talked more about the collaboration on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services blog:

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools we have for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but they also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Among children in the U.S. born between 1994 and 2013, routine vaccinations will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.

And they both took a little dig at the anti-vaxxer movement at the end of the video.

“That was so easy. Why doesn’t everybody get a vaccination,” he says.

“That’s a good question Elmo,” Murthy replies.