Vile anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists have targeted the first Brit to receive the new coronavirus jab, with some even bizarrely claiming she actually died 12 years ago.

On Tuesday, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first to get the Covid vaccine as the NHS prepares for a first nationwide rollout of 800,000 doses.

The grandma from Coventry was applauded by hospital staff after receiving the vaccine, which is prioritising the over-80s and healthcare workers at first.

But as has been the case throughout the pandemic, conspiratorial voices on the internet have reacted to the news with scepticism and even outright hostility.

The BBC's Shayan Sardarizaheh shared a number of tweets and posts from anti-vaccine conspiracists who have targeted Margaret, with some even suggesting she doesn't exist.

In a series of screenshots posted on Twitter, Shayan shared examples of the lengths some people are going to as they try and back up their conspiracies.

According to one person, Margaret actually died in 2008.

Paraphrasing one conspiracy theorist, Shayan said: "She actually died in 2008 and the one who was vaccinated today was a 'crisis' actor'."

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He also said some sceptics were claiming the fact that Margaret was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, but later moved to Coventry was proof she didn't exist.

Another theorist posted a picture on Facebook of Margaret with her hands clasped together in an upsidedown triangle making an alleged "masonic" gesture.

Shayan said this was proof to some that the pensioner was actually a "freemason lady" and member of "the Illuminati".

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While others insisted the video was actually from October, or that it couldn't be real because the nurse wasn't wearing gloves and had administered the jab to both the first person and the second patient, William Shakespeare.

Debunking the theories, Shayan said: "How could the same nurse vaccinate both Ms Keenan and Mr Shakespeare while one lives in Coventry and the other in Stratford?

"She could because both of them were actually vaccinated within minutes of each other at University Hospital Coventry.

"So, yes, it was the same nurse."

It comes two days after a new survey found almost half of Brits don't believe the vaccine is safe.

The research by Opinium showed 48% of Brits believe the Pfizer vaccine will be unsafe, 47% don't think it will work and 55% think it could have serious side effects.

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