Surgeon general tells Sesame Street’s Elmo to get vaccinated

Newly appointed Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is pairing up with Elmo to promote children’s vaccines.

Murthy tells the “Sesame Street” character that people “stay healthy” by getting vaccinations on time in a video released Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“Don’t worry, Elmo, it’s just a little pinch. And it’s safe,” Murthy adds.

{mosads}HHS officials have warned that declining vaccination rates across the country will lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases like the measles.

Measles entered the headlines earlier this year after more than a dozen people became infected at a Disneyland in California.

The Obama administration has said it does not support mandatory vaccination, though it encourages all children to receive their shots unless they are medically unable to do so.