Sid the Science Kid Delivers New Vaccination Special

The Jim Henson Company and the US Department of Health and Human Services have partnered to produce a special episode of Sid the Science Kid to help answer children's questions about the germs, virus and vaccinations. Just in time for flu season, the special new episode is planned to hit PBS airwaves later this month. In the new episode, entitled "Getting a Shot: You Can Do It!", Sid and his friends learn the basic science behind how vaccinations work.

It's vaccination day at Sid's school, and Sid and his friends are a little apprehensive about getting a shot. Thankfully, a very special nurse will be giving the kids their vaccination -- Sid's Grandma! Throughout the special episode, Grandma, Teacher Susie, Mom and Dad all do their part to make vaccination day a fun learning experience filled with music, games and lots of laughs.

The Henson Company utilized the Henson Digital Performance Studio, the Emmy-winning real-time animation system, to deliver the full 30-minute episode in record time. While the typical production of an episode of Sid the Science Kid usually takes up to six months, in this case, the Company took only six weeks, from greenlight to delivery, to produce the special episode.

The special episode will debut on PBS on October 26, 2009 and will receive a prominent spot in the network's regular rotation thereafter (check local listins for details). Funding for the special came in part from the Deptartment of Health and Human Services, marking the first time the federal agency has funded an episode of Sid the Science Kid.

This also marks the first specially produced episode of Sid the Scince Kid outside of the show's regular week-long curricular cycles. The special show will join the library of 40 Sid the Science Kid episodes already in rotation on PBS Kids. I will be sure to keep you updated with more information regarding this new episode, and other Sid the Science Kid productions, as things develop.