Meryl Nass is a physician in private practice who is known for uncovering the use of anthrax as a biological weapon in Rhodesia, and for her outspoken criticism of the mandatory use of anthrax vaccine by the military. This use persists despite high rates of serious adverse reactions, and despite the fact that the vaccine was never proven effective nor licensed for the purpose for which it is being used (inhalation anthrax). In fact, the vaccine is in Investigational New Drug (IND) status for inhalation anthrax.
Dr. Nass has been a leading opponent of military policies that continue to treat servicemembers as a ready pool of experimental subjects, in the absence of meaningful informed consent.
She has shown that many studies indicate anthrax vaccine is one cause of Gulf War Illnesses, and furthermore that recently vaccinated servicemembers have developed identical illnesses. She has provided testimony before two Institute of Medicine committees on Gulf War Illness exposures (Dec. 15, 1999), and safety and efficacy of the anthrax vaccine (Oct. 3, 2000). She provided written comments to the FDA and the House National Security Subcommittee (Shays' Committee) on Executive Order 13139, which created a new policy regarding use of unlicensed therapeutics in human subjects.
Dr. Nass discussed experimental anthrax vaccine use in testimony to the House National Security Subcommittee on April 29, 1999, and discussed accelerated drug licensing and abbreviated testing of vaccines and drugs intended for responding to bioterrorism in testimony for the House Government Reform Committee hearing on Nov 14, 2001 ("Preparing a Medical Response to Bioterrorism") http://www.anthraxvaccine.org/response.htm)
Among her publications addressing ethical violations in medical research:
"Who Is Protecting the Public Health? Can We Trust the Regulators?" By Meryl Nass, Z Magazine: http://www.zmag.org/ZMag/articles/april02nass.htm
"The Anthrax Vaccine Program, and an Analysis of the CDC's Recommendations for Vaccine Use." American Journal of Public Health. May 2002.
"The Model Emergency Health Powers Act Creates Its Own Emergency" April 8, 2002.
http://www.redflagsweekly.com/nass/2002_april08.html
"The Extremely Difficult Task Of Tracking Vaccine-Related Side-Effects." April 22, 2002. http://www.redflagsweekly.com/nass/2002_april22.html