On November 6, Big Bird, who is officially six years old, came onto Twitter to announce to the public that he is now vaccinated since the shot for children in America from the ages of 5-11 recently became available. Though this declaration may not seem like a big deal to most, the announcement outraged many Republicans.

Big Bird proclaimed on Twitter “My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy.” Most Twitter users were thankful and overjoyed that the bird was setting a positive example for children as well as informing parents about the new vaccine. President Biden, along with the CDC-P Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, were just a few among the large group of people to praise the bird for doing his part in the community.

Others, however, did not share the same appreciation. Republican Senator Ted Cruz declared Big Bird’s tweet as “government propaganda”, and Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe claimed Big Bird’s proclamation is “brainwashing children”. Even former Trump adviser and Newsmax host Steve Cortes stated the announcement as “evil propaganda”. Other commenters went as far as to call Big Bird a communist.

All three Republicans also made incorrect claims, stating that COVID-19 doesn’t affect children so they’re not at risk. While it is true that most children experience milder symptoms than adults, they can still contract COVID and spread it to various people. Experts claim that the vaccine for children will help fight the virus and stop the spread, leading to fewer hospitalizations.

Though this may not seem surprising to most, this is not the first time Big Bird has gotten vaccinated. Back in 1972, Big Bird was seen on an episode of Sesame Street receiving the measles vaccination and was yet again acquired with an abundance of gratitude from many. Parents everywhere have been praising the bird for showing support and continuing to set a good example, even at the beginning of his time.