Poster (colour) , 'Rubella, vaccinate before it's too late' 'She suffered from rubella for three days, their baby may suffer for life' - Rubella vaccination, one of 800 health education posters produced for the Central Council for Health Education (1927-69), Health Education Council (1969-87) and Health Education Authority (1987-2000).

Rubella or German measles is an infection caused by a virus that is passed from person to person through droplets in coughs and sneezes. It is an example of the Second World War motto ‘Coughs and sneezes spread diseases!’. Rubella commonly affects young children, causing a mild fever and a red rash. If, however, contracted by pregnant women, the virus can cause birth defects such as deafness, blindness and heart and brain damage. When the vaccine was introduced in 1970, it was only offered to pre-pubescent girls and young women who intended to start families, but is now available to all children.