Conspiracy theorist makes remarkable claim first vaccine patient 'is an actress'
A former NHS worker who has become a figurehead for conspiracy theorists has suggested Britain’s first vaccine patient is an actress.
Louise Hampton – whose Facebook page has attracted a ‘false information’ warning – questioned whether Margaret Keenan was actually a real NHS patient.
Ms Hampton, who quit her job with 111 service provider Care UK to oppose Covid-19 measures, has joined in anti-lockdown rallies across the country.
She said: ‘I wanted to speak a little bit about Margaret, she’s 90 years old, allegedly, she seemed very happy.
‘I do wonder, was she an actress? Did she volunteer herself, did somebody approach her? I would like to see her family on the news or whoever looks after her.’
The anti-vaxxer, speaking in a Facebook Live post, said V-Day was a ‘massive marketing campaign’.
She also captioned a report about the start of the immunisation programme with the message: ‘Maggie’s jab is merely a MARKETING PLOY!’
Another post by Ms Hampton has been flagged as ‘false information – checked by independent fact-checkers’.
However her assertions about the 90-year-old patient have remained on the site, attracting more than 1,500 comments and 555 shares.
It’s the latest conspiracy theory to emerge during the pandemic, and has been widely shared despite defying all available reason and evidence.
Myths that have been debunked include the idea that the vaccine changes your DNA, that it’s been developed too quickly to be safe and that Bill Gates will use it to control the world.
The first people to have been given the vaccine including Margaret, from Coventry, have played a role in what is considered a major turning point in the fight-back against coronavirus.
The grandma became the first member of the public to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech jab after being approved in the UK.
After receiving the vaccine at University Hospital Coventry, she said: ‘My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too.’
Ms Hampton, 37, resigned from Care UK earlier this year after a video of her describing an award for her work during the pandemic as a ‘certificate of b******s’ went viral and claiming she had received barely any calls.
She has since continued to spread disputed claims via social media and is touring Covid-19 testing sites without wearing PPE in an effort to show they are empty.
The refusenik has also described coronavirus as ‘rebranded flu’.
Her claims about the 111 service are directly contradicted by her former employer, who pointed to a 400% peak in calls.
Ms Hampton says friends and family have stopped speaking to her because of her views, but has vowed to keep campaigning despite the criticism.
Metro.co.uk has approached Ms Hampton and Facebook for comment.
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