Give your child something you never had

Poster, MMR 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).

The MMR vaccine or Measles, Mumps and Rubella combined vaccine was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1988. The vaccine is given to children at 13 months and again before they start school. A second dose was introduced in 1996.

The vaccine temporarily became controversial when links to autism, since discredited, were suggested in February 1998. As vaccination is not compulsory in the United Kingdom, parents have a choice whether to immunise their children. Measles, mumps and rubella jabs can also be given as single vaccines.