The Teletubbies Get Vaxxed for Tubby Hot Summer and the Internet Collectively Loses Its Mind

With the Sun Baby making the weather warmer, the Teletubbies are more than ready to go out and play in the grassy hills. However, every good Tubby knows that the best way to prepare for Tubby Hot Summer is to get vaccinated.

The push to make sure we’re all vaccinated has been creative, to say the least. Many governments and companies all across the world have offered incentives to try and get people to go in for a shot. In the case of the Teletubbies, it’s a cute way to use iconic characters to drive the “vaccination is important” narrative.

But honestly, I kinda expect this from children’s programming. Children’s programming is known for taking important issues and simplifying them in a way that’s easy to process. Back in May, Elmo’s dad, Louie, got vaccinated, so he and his family could get back to cookouts, playdates, and other activities.

The Teletubbies are simply joining the ongoing vaccination narrative.

And that’s the end of the story!

I’m kidding. It’s the Internet. You know there’s more to this story.

Now, truth be told, not every response has been someone having a big-brain moment about there being Vaxxietubbies. Some have been genuine and even responded in a way that correlates with the Teletubby universe.

Others have pointed out that somewhere out there is a person who is big mad about the Teletubbies being vaccinated.

I’m sure if I keep scrolling through the thread I’d find the inevitable “stop spreading propaganda to our kids” comment as if children’s programming hasn’t been educating the masses (both child and adult) for decades.

However, the number one thing that kept getting brought up was that 2003 on those Teletubby vaccination cards.

The first episode of the series was March 31, 1997, a date I will remember for the rest of my life because of how quickly the, um, Teletubbies fandom responded when seeing 2003 because you can’t just go around messing with lore like that.

You also can’t lie about your DOB on medical forms, either.

Maybe the date is based on the 2015 revival? And we know 2015 wouldn’t make them old enough for the vaccine, so maybe they picked a date that would make them 18?

That being said, them being 18 has led to some … other revelations.

Yikes.

That’s not the only foreboding revelation people have had. Some have pointed out how the vaccine, Noo-nson & Noo-nson, is a clear play on Johnson & Johnson, the vaccine that was 1) one-shot, and 2) the vaccine that was paused for a brief period of time. This technically means that Tinky Winky and Laa-Laa got the shot one too many times.

Others have realized that this means that the Teletubbies are susceptible to getting diseases, so much so that they have a Home Dome Clinic at the ready.

Not to add to the social media panic about Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, but you’re also not supposed to post your vaccine card online. Feel free to flex the “I Got Vaccinated” Noo-noo sticker, but keep that card in a safe place.

Also, it’s not July 22 yet, so did they get the shot in the future then return to show us the card in the past?

In conclusion, this single tweet has reminded me that the Internet can be a wonderful place. Where a children’s program leads to us wondering if its characters are ageless entities who lie about how old they are in order to get vaxxed for Tubby Hot Summer.

(Image: BBC Worldwide/DHX Media)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Briana Lawrence

Briana (she/her - bisexual) is trying her best to cosplay as a responsible adult. Her writing tends to focus on the importance of representation, whether it’s through her multiple book series or the pieces she writes. After de-transforming from her magical girl state, she indulges in an ever-growing pile of manga, marathons too much anime, and dedicates an embarrassing amount of time to her Animal Crossing pumpkin patch (it's Halloween forever, deal with it Nook)

twitter Link to www.magnifiquenoir.com