Louisiana's chief medical officer is leaving his post after three years on the job.
A Louisiana Department of Health spokesperson confirms to WWL that Dr. Joe Kanter stepped down from his post. The spokesperson did not immediately know when Kanter's resignation was effective.
Kanter came to prominence in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic. At the time, Kanter, who was then the assistant state health officer, joined then-Governor John Bel Edwards during briefings to provide updates on the virus's spread in Louisiana and urging people to take precautions to avoid becoming infected. Kanter succeeded Dr. Jimmy Guidry as chief health officer in 2021. Over the last three years, Kanter continued to push Louisiana residents to get vaccinated against COVID and the flu to prevent further outbreaks.
Kanter's vaccination stance places him at odds with Governor Jeff Landry, who, as attorney general, fought against mask and vaccine mandates in Louisiana.
