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It is the largest exodus of health officials in American history, experts say.
• 10 min read
COVID-19 vaccines and new variants
Dr. Drew Weissman from the University of Pennsylvania talks about how scientists can adapt COVID-19 vaccines to combat new coronavirus variants.Raymond Boyd/Getty Images, FILE
Exhausted, frustrated, facing personal threats and political pressure, public health officials nationwide are departing their posts at a rate never seen before, and in the middle of a pandemic.
More than 180 state and local public health leaders -- high level health department staffers in at least 38 states -- have resigned, retired or been fired since April 1, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News and The Associated Press. It is the largest exodus of public health officials in American history, experts say.