In an effort to promote the importance of vaccination for kids, the U.S. Surgeon General has teamed up with Sesame Street star Elmo, as the two star in a new video.
Elmo and Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy joined forces to encourage children and their parents to make sure the kids are up to date on all of their vaccinations, appearing together in the video released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"It's my job to help everyone stay healthy," Murthy tells Elmo in the 30-second public service announcement.
"Can Elmo help too?" asks the bright red Sesame Street character.
"Absolutely, Elmo," is Murthy's reply. "You can get all your vaccinations on time. Those are the shots that help you stay healthy."
In a blog on the HHS department website, Murthy points out the importance of vaccines, calling them "the most successful and cost-effective public health tools."
"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," Murthy wrote.
Vaccinations can prevent many diseases by "priming" the body's immune system to be ready to react to any infection, and is one of the most important health safeguards available.
While the rate of vaccination remains high in most of the U.S, there remains areas where the rate is low, with some citing that as a cause of recent outbreaks of diseases formerly considered eliminated or extremely rare.
The HHS video was released on the same day that California health officials announced the recent measles outbreak, believed to have started at Disneyland, was considered over.
The outbreak infected 147 people across the U.S., including 131 in California where the outbreak originated, the California State Department of Health said.
A bill being considered by the state legislature would end the ability of parents to let their children attend school without being vaccinated based on personal or religious beliefs about such vaccinations.
April 18 through 25 has been declared National Infant Immunization Week, and interested people can learn more at https://www.vaccines.gov.
Murthy, in talking about his star turn with the beloved Sesame Street character, recalled how like many kids he grew up watching the long-running television show.
"So, imagine my excitement when I finally got to meet Elmo!" he said.
