Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Immunisation Is Simple, Safe & Free, 1939 UK poster: A photograph of two small girls eating at a table is overlaid

Immunisation Is Simple, Safe & Free

A photograph of two small girls eating at a table is overlaid with a white triangle and a red disc carrying the slogan. The three adjectives 'simple, safe and free' present only the advantages of immunisation and name no risk or procedure (card-stacking), though the claim is a public-health one the issuer could substantiate.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Card stacking
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Multi Machine Plates Ltd, London (issuing department not named on the poster)
Region
Western and Central Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Churchill Government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
Health, Home front
Event
World War II
Regime
Churchill wartime government
Leader
Winston Churchill
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
H.M. Stationery Office imprint. National Archives and Records Administration, NAID 44266586 (44-PF-207c).

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

IMMUNISATION
IS SIMPLE,
SAFE & FREE

PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY MULTI MACHINE PLATES LTD. LONDON E.C.4. 51-2571

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