Carla Vizzotti

Dr. Carla Vizzotti is a distinguished public health expert and leader in vaccine policy, currently serving as the Director of the Innovation Hub in Health Policies and Equity at the National University of San Martín (UNSAM) in Argentina. In this role, she leads interdisciplinary and collaborative initiatives aimed at promoting access to health as a human right and improving health systems with a comprehensive, federal, and intersectorial approach. Her work at the Hub is framed within the "One Health" concept, which recognizes the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health, striving to foster a healthier and more sustainable future. Dr. Vizzotti is committed to promoting equitable access to quality health services, prioritizing human rights, interculturality, and gender. 

Dr. Vizzotti has over 25 years of experience in the public and private sector, academia, scientific societies and has actively participated in different international organizations. She is widely recognized for her achievements in health policy design and vaccine strategies. Her leadership has significantly shaped national and global health agendas. 

She obtained her Medical Degree from del Salvador University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1997. Following her medical training, she specialized in Internal Medicine at Buenos Aires University, earning her specialization in 2002. Dr. Vizzotti then further honed her expertise with a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases from the Centro de Estudios Infectológicos Dr. Daniel Stambolián in 2005. In 2012, she became a Health and Social Security Systems Specialistfrom Isalud University, and in 2013, she completed the Advanced Vaccinology Course (ADVAC) at the Mérieux Foundation & Geneva University in Switzerland. 

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Vizzotti served as Argentina’s Minister of Health, where she led the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the pandemic, she was involved on the creation or regulation of 19 groundbreaking health laws, expanding citizens’ rights and addressing key issues such as immunization, women’s health, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare system integration. Dr. Vizzotti’s leadership also prioritized introducing new vaccines into the National Immunization Schedule, including the maternal RSV vaccine, solidifying Argentina’s leadership in global vaccination policy. 

Prior to her role as Minister of Health, Dr. Vizzotti made significant contributions as the Director of the National Immunization Program from 2007 to 2016. During this time, she expanded the program by increasing its budget by 1700% and incorporating multiple new vaccines, including Influenza, 13 valent conjugated Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, gender neutral HPV, Varicella, dTaP for pregnant women, full IPV and universal hepatitis B vaccination. Dr. Vizzotti was also instrumental in advancing the global switch to inactivated polio vaccines and led the implementation of the impact studies of the  single-dose hepatitis A vaccination strategy that allowed Argentina to present at the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), where a local initiative became a global recommendation. As a result, many countries, particularly those in development, were able to access hepatitis A vaccination, preventing cases and deaths associated with the disease. This achievement marked a significant milestone in global public health and demonstrated Argentina's leadership in vaccine policy. 

Dr. Vizzotti's work extends beyond immunization. From 2019 to 2021, she served as Argentina’s Health Access Secretary, where she has led initiatives to integrate healthcare systems, regulate pharmaceutical products and medical devices, implement innovative digital health systems, and advocate for maternal and child health, mental health, and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Additionally, as the Director of the Center for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases at ISALUD University (2017–2019), she led key research initiatives in infectious diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, and health policy analysis. 

Her academic contributions are equally significant. Dr. Vizzotti is an honorary professor from Cordoba National University and has played a leading role in scientific committees. She is a founding member and former president of the Argentine Society of Vaccinology and Epidemiology (SAVE) and has contributed to various prestigious scientific advisory groups, including the Pan American Health Organization’s Maternal Immunization Technical Advisory Group and the WHO Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC). Her work has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed articles, further advancing global vaccine policy and immunization. 

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Vizzotti is passionate about spending time with her family, particularly her three nephews. She enjoys traveling, attending theater performances, and cherishing moments with friends, striking a balance between her personal and professional commitments.