Conspiracy theorist nurse who compared NHS to Auschwitz struck off

An anti-vaxxer nurse who compared the NHS to Auschwitz and labelled vaccination teams “death squads” has been struck off.

Kate Shemirani, a prominent member of the UK’s anti-vaccine community, had already been suspended from nursing for an interim period of time.

Now the activist – who has frequently called Covid a scam – has been struck off the nursing register. It is believed she is the first to have been struck off after spreading falsehoods about coronavirus.

An investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which regulates the profession, heard how Shemirani had a string of “scaremongering tactics” which urged the public not to follow public health guidance during the pandemic.

The conspiracy theorist had labelled healthcare professionals “Nurses and Drs of ‘The Third Reich” and called face masks “dirty rags” and “[a] muzzle”, the panel heard.

The panel found that Shemirani, of East Sussex, had impaired fitness to practise on both public protection and public interest grounds.

“Mrs Shemirani had attempted to encourage people to act contrary to public health guidance issued by the UK government by spreading this information through social media platforms and at public events,” found the panel. 

“She actively discouraged people from wearing masks, adhering to social distancing, and taking vaccinations.”

Shemirani, who is also known as Kay Allison Shemirani, did not engage with the panel’s hearing. 

She also had not “shown any remorse, nor given any explanation for repeatedly spreading misinformation,” found the panel.