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Washington (AP) – The man who hopes to see President Donald Trump's health secretary repeatedly to be able to see “data” or “science” that show the vaccines – but as an influential Republican senator, he dismissed it.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent two days this week to survive the senators that he shouldn’t be against vacaca. He said as an alternative he supported vaccinations and can follow science in monitoring the Department of Health and Human Services of 1.7 trillion dollars, which, amongst other things, monitors vaccine research, approval and proposals.

However, Kennedy repeatedly refused to acknowledge scientific consensus that vaccines don’t cause autism in childhood and that covid-19 vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, and he incorrectly claimed that the federal government had no good surveillance of vaccine safety. While he apparently ignored mainstream science, he quoted incorrect or tangential research, to make his points, comparable to suggesting that black people need different vaccines than whites.

His answers have created concern amongst health experts that Kennedy doesn’t give basic skills for the job.

“He ignores science. He sometimes cherry picks fraudulent studies. Sometimes he takes a well -done degree and takes small pieces of them out of context, ”said Dr. Sean O'Leary from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

He fears that Kennedy could further damage the general public's trust in vaccines, and “we will see the return of diseases that we really don't see much of, and unfortunately children will suffer.”

Kennedy “has shown his lack of ability in many ways to understand some details about science and evidence that he believes that he would really have to know,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin from the American Public Health Association.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican and doctor in Louisiana, said that science is obvious that measles and other childhood vaccines are secure and never related to autism.

Kennedy said that if he was shown the information, he would recommend these vaccines and “I will not only do this, but I will apologize for any statements that people otherwise mislead.”

Therefore, Cassidy took off the ultimate scientific conclusions and skim aloud that vaccines don’t cause autism. Kennedy showed him and as an alternative mentioned a recent expert of external experts by experts – and Cassidy agreed “some problems” to counteract many years of strict studies.

The Senator said Kennedy that he “undermines the trust in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments” and risked “to fill a shadow about President Trump's legacy” when people die from diseases dying within the lack of vaccine if he should develop into health secretary.

Senator Maggie Hassan, a democrat from New Hampshire, said that it was an actual relocation for the “revival and recovering time of science” time and cash, which might be spent on finding the actual explanation for autism.

Kennedy claimed that there isn’t any good surveillance system to know that covid 19 vaccines are secure and life-saving.

The United States pursues the security of vaccines through several surveillance systems, including electronic medical records from an inventory of health systems. The centers for the control and prevention of diseases also examine how vaccines have a very good performance, as during pandemic, as large databases from Israel and Great Britain, contributed to the incontrovertible fact that the brand new MRNA vaccines were secure and reduce deaths by the coronavirus.

“You apply for the job – you should clearly know that,” said Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders von Vermont. “The scientific community has found that Covid vaccines saved millions of lives and that they have doubts.”

O'Leary from AAP said that there are around 35,000 cancer cases in reference to the HPV virus that might be prevented by this vaccine, including 4,000 deaths per yr. “We already see a decrease in the number of cases of HPV-related cancer due to the HPV vaccination.”

Kennedy didn’t answer directly when he was asked whether he stood for claims that the HPV vaccine could cause cancer or one other disease. Instead, he brought up a pending lawsuit and suggested that a jury from non-scientists would.

Senator Angela Sobrooks, a democrat in Maryland, asked Kennedy about previous comments that black people may have a unique vaccination plan than white. Sobrooks, which is black, asked how Kennedy thought she must have been vaccinated otherwise.

Kennedy referred to some earlier papers that indicate that individuals of African American ancestors had a stronger immune response to measles and rubella vaccines than whites.

Vaccination recommendations should not based on breed, but on biological aspects comparable to the age of an individual and the chance of a certain disease. Some studies show that black Americans are more hesitant than white to keep up certain vaccines.

“It's so dangerous,” said Brooks about Kennedy.

“There is no evidence that there must be another vaccination plan based on the breed,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Such statements could wrongly consider that “good, I don't need as many vaccines” as really useful.

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AP medical writers Carla K. Johnson contributed.

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The Department of Health and Science from Associated Press receives support from the Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is just answerable for all content.

When assessing the outgoing Biden administration, much of the news has focused on inflation, immigration or Hunter's laptop. But as an authority To national competitiveness in science and technologyI even have a rather different focus. My research shows that the US Prosperity and security rely on it depends heavily on the country's ability to provide cutting-edge science and technology.

So how has the Biden administration moved on this direction?

Advancing pandemic science and technology

President Joe Biden's immediate challenge after the inauguration was to finish the COVID-19 pandemic after which return the economy to normal operations.

First, he put his government's weight behind the production and distribution of vaccines. Thanks to President Donald Trump's Operation Warp Speed The vaccinations began in mid-December 2020. However, there was no nationwide rollout and there have been no plans for it. When Biden took office there have been only about 5% of Americans were vaccinated.

The Biden administration worked with private retail chains to construct cold storage and distribution capability. To ensure sufficient vaccine supply, Biden worked on it support the large pharmaceutical manufacturers. And all of the while, Biden ran a public relations campaign to tell, educate and motivate Americans to get vaccinated.

Within the primary 10 weeks of Biden's presidency, a 3rd of the US population had done so have received no less than one dosehalf by the top of May and over 70% by the top of the 12 months. And when Americans were vaccinatedTravel bans were lifted, school operations resumed, and business operations regularly returned to normal.

A later study noted that Biden's vaccination program It prevented greater than 3.2 million American deaths and 18.5 million hospitalizations, saved $1.15 trillion in medical costs and lost economic output.

In the wake of the economic hardship attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden signed two bills with direct and far-reaching impacts on science and technology. Previous administrations had promised infrastructure investments, but Biden delivered. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs ActPassed in late 2021 with bipartisan support, it provided $1.2 trillion for infrastructure of all types.

Instead of simply rebuilding, the law emphasized technological upgrades: clean water, clean energy, high-speed rural web, public transit and airport modernization, and electric grid reliability.

In August 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act $739 billion in tax credits and direct spending. That was that largest climate change laws within the history of the USA. It implemented an intensive repertoire of subsidies and incentives to develop and disseminate the vital science and technology clean and renewable energyEnvironmental protection and too address climate change.

Science and technology tents and sleepers

Some of the Biden administration's scientific and technological achievements have been quite obvious. For example, Biden successfully pushed for increased federal funding for research and development. Federal research and development funding increased by 25% from 2021 to 2024. Recipients included the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, NASA and the Department of Defense. In addition, Biden oversaw investments in latest technologies similar to AI and their responsible governance.

Biden also maintained or increased Trump's tariffs and continued his predecessor's skepticism about latest free trade agreements, cementing a protectionist turn in American trade policy. Biden's addition should add Protectionist industrial policy – Subsidies for domestic production and innovation in addition to “buy-american” mandates.

Other successes remained under the radar. For example, Biden created one as a part of the National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness. Its mission is to speed up the event of breakthrough technologies, speed up their transition to market, and retrain and upskill American staff in high-quality jobs with higher wages.

Biden implemented measures to strengthen and improve Federal scientific integrity to offer residents the sensation that they’ll trust government-funded science and its use. He also proposed latest measures to enhance research security, aimed toward stopping government-funded research from being illegally acquired by foreign firms.

The CHIPS & Science Act

The crown jewel of Biden's science and technology agenda was the bipartisan Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, which was intended to spice up U.S. manufacturing Capabilities in advanced semiconductor chips. It has taken approx $40 billion to American chipmakersleading to an extra $450 billion private investment over 90 latest manufacturing projects in 28 states.

The CHIPS Act's subsidies, covering all the things from advanced packaging to memory chips, have reduced private costs domestic semiconductor production. CHIPS can be pushing for these latest manufacturing jobs to go to well-paid American staff. While the U.S. produced few of probably the most advanced chips just two years ago, the industry believes the U.S. may have such chips 28% of worldwide capability until 2032.

Less well-known are the “scientific” parts of the CHIPS Act. For example, it invested half a billion dollars in dozens regional innovation and technology centers across the country. These hubs give attention to a wide selection of strategic sectors, including critical materials, sustainable polymers, precision medicine and medical devices. Over 30 tech hubs have already been named, including this Expand the Quantum Tech Hub in Denver and the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub.

The CHIPS Act also goals to expand participation in science. This is finished through improved tracking and funding of research and STEM education previously underrepresented Americans – by district, occupation, ethnicity, gender, institution and socioeconomic background. It also seeks to expand the impact of government-funded research to handle global challenges similar to: Supply chain disruptionsWaste of resources and energy security.

Missed opportunities and future possibilities

Despite these successes, the Biden administration has faced criticism within the science and technology sector. Some critics contend that U.S. research security still doesn’t adequately defend American science and technology Theft or counterfeiting by competitors.

Others insist that federal spending on research and development stays too low. In particular, they call for more investment within the US research infrastructure – similar to modern laboratories and data systems – and latest technologies.

That of the administration government-centric approach to AI has also attracted criticism as suffocating and unsuitable.

Personally, I’m agnostic on these issues, but they’re legitimate concerns. In my opinion, investments in science and technology take an extended time to repay, so early judgments about Biden's success or failure are probably premature.

Nevertheless, the following government has quite a bit ahead of it. International cooperation is prone to be crucial. The most difficult global problems require scientific and technological advances that transcend the capabilities of any single country. The challenge for the United States is to cooperate in ways in which complement American competitiveness.

National priorities will probably be included the event of productive and ethical AI that helps the US be more competitive, in addition to a brand new one Quantum computing industry. Neuroscience and “Healthspan” research are also promising Improving U.S. competitiveness while also changing Americans' life satisfaction.

Consistently sustaining America's entire science and technology enterprise requires two elements from the federal government: increased resources and a competitive environment. America's greatness will rely on President-elect Trump's ability to realize these goals.

Rabies is a fatal disease. Without vaccination there’s a risk of rabies infection 100% deadly as soon as someone develops symptoms. Texas has experienced two epidemics of rabies in animals since 1988: one with coyotes and dogs in south Texas and the opposite with gray foxes in west central Texas. These outbreaks, which affected 74 counties, resulted in hundreds of people that might have been exposed to the virus, two human deaths, and countless animal lives lost.

In 1994, Governor Ann Richards declared rabies a state health emergency. The Texas Department of State Health Services responded by introducing the Oral rabies vaccination program to manage the spread of those rabies outbreaks in wild animals.

The program has been distributed since 1995 over 53 million doses of rabies vaccine across 758,100 square miles (almost 2 million square kilometers) in Texas by hand or plane. The variety of rabies cases in dogs and coyotes increased from 141 to 0 by 2005, and the variety of rabies cases in foxes increased from 101 to 0 by 2014. By 2004, there was a variant of rabies in dogs effectively eliminated from Texasand one other variant has been largely controlled.

We are researchers who’ve began Study of untamed animal rabies And oral vaccination within the Eighties. From providing a proof of concept for using oral vaccines in raccoons to being among the many first to make use of latest rabies vaccines within the Nineties, we’ve got been on the forefront of efforts to contain this deadly virus.

Decades of vaccine research resulted in one of the vital successful public health projects in Texas. And we hope it could provide a roadmap for deploying mass vaccinations in wildlife to forestall future outbreaks.

Development of the oral rabies vaccine

The Texas Oral Rabies Vaccination Program has benefited greatly from the work of several researchers over the past few many years.

There were several within the mid-Twentieth century major developments in combating rabies. Virologists and veterinarians report that attempts to poison or capture infected animals have failed George Bear on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized the necessity for a distinct strategy to forestall and control rabies in wildlife. His and his colleagues' work within the Nineteen Sixties led to the concept of oral rabies vaccination. While oral vaccination of untamed animals would help combat the infection at its source, it was previously considered logistically unfeasible as a result of the massive range of goal animals.

European researchers began doing this within the late Nineteen Seventies first field tests Orally vaccinate foxes against rabies. Small plastic containers were full of vaccines and inserted into bait like chicken heads. Over 50,000 of those vaccine-laden baits were distributed in fox habitats in forests and fields over a four-year period.

Researchers in Canada also began similar field trials in Ontario. In the Eighties, a median of 235 rabid foxes per 12 months were reported in the world. From 1989 to 1995, oral rabies vaccine baits were used annually, successfully eliminating the fox variant of rabies throughout the world.

Recombinant oral rabies vaccine

The first generation of those vaccines used live viruses modified in order that they don’t cause serious illness. Although effective and usually protected, the unique rabies vaccines required storage at cool temperatures and carried the rare risk of causing rabies in animals.

In the early Eighties, scientists developed recombinant rabies vaccines that use a separate virus to specific the rabies virus genes. A collaboration between a non-profit institute, the US government and the pharmaceutical industry led to the event of a recombinant virus vaccine which produced a rapid immune response against rabies without the potential for causing rabies.

In 1984 Preliminary work on laboratory animals showed promise of using an oral type of the recombinant vaccine to vaccinate animals. However, the concept of using genetically modified organisms was still in its infancy, each in science and amongst most people. While the vaccine was protected and effective in captive raccoons and foxes, big questions emerged about how it would affect other species once released into the environment.

After years of labor improving the design of the vaccine and testing its safety in multiple non-human species, the first European attempt took place at a military base in Belgium. Because there was data showing that the vaccine could safely and effectively control wildlife in Luxembourg and France, it was approved in 1995 to combat fox rabies.

Similar studies of the oral recombinant rabies vaccine have been conducted within the United States. The first trial began in 1990 Parramore Island off the coast of Virginiaand a 12 months of intensive monitoring revealed no significant negative impacts on the environment or wildlife species. A second year-long study on the mainland near Williamsport, Pennsylvaniahad similarly positive results.

After the vaccine was successfully utilized in tests to combat raccoon rabies in several other east Coastal statesIn 1997 it was approved to be used on raccoons.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received funding expand existing oral wild vaccination projects to states of strategic importance to forestall the spread of certain rabies viruses and to coordinate interstate projects.

Results in Texas

In Texas, the oral recombinant vaccine is now distributed primarily by hand and thru about 75 separate helicopter flights per 12 months.

The Texas Department of State Health Services rabies lab worked with the CDC to develop this Regional reference typing laboratory for rabies viruses. One of us was recruited to each distribute and develop the vaccine locally Molecular typing tools to tell apart between various kinds of rabies virus variants within the laboratory. Using these techniques, we were in a position to determine where different variants of the rabies virus were occurring at any time limit.

Our lab was also the primary within the country outside of the CDC to assist other U.S. states and countries test their samples for rabies virus variants. These techniques helped researchers monitor where rabies epidemics continued or declined as a result of wildlife vaccinations latest types of distribution.

Given the constant threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases comparable to COVID-19 and influenza, the prospect of mass vaccination of wildlife might be a strategy to combat future pandemics. Although there continues to be a variety of work ahead of us, we hope that at some point we may have the chance to achieve this through mass vaccination of untamed animals to scale back or eliminate infectious diseases comparable to rabies.

Even because the Covid wave continues in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis' administration is once more discouraging mRNA vaccines: this time for probably the most vulnerable population.

In updated guidelines for healthcare providers released on Thursday, the Florida Health Department and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo demonstrated the protection and effectiveness of the mRNA Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, including for older adults and folks with underlying medical conditions. “Any provider concerned about the health risks associated with Covid-19 for patients over 65 years of age or with underlying medical conditions should prioritize patient access to non-mRNA Covid-19 vaccines and treatments,” the state guidelines say.

As against Advice from the federal health authorities and other health workers on the protection of Covid vaccines, the Florida Department of Health said the advice was based on high immunity rates because of previous infections and “currently available data.”

Without noticing, high risk of severe Covid infection or hospitalization for older adultsThe guideline listed safety concerns in regards to the mRNA vaccines, including the chance of a rare heart condition called myocarditis and the chance of POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndromea debilitating heart disease.

Numerous studies have shown that each the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are indeed related to a small but increased risk of myocarditis. However, most cases occur in young men and most of the people get better fully. Studies have also shown that the chance of myocarditis is far higher with Covid infection and is usually more severe than with the vaccine-related illness.

A broadcast study in Nature Cardiovascular Research​ It has also been found that individuals diagnosed with Covid are five times more prone to develop POTS after infection than after a Covid vaccination, underscoring the importance of vaccination.

Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said the Florida Surgeon General's guidelines are unnecessarily alarming people about Covid vaccines.

“He's playing such a dangerous game,” said Offit, who served on the FDA's independent vaccine advisory committee. “You're only about 1,000 times more likely to die. [from Covid] if you are over 65 than if you are under 18.”

“The mRNA vaccines are remarkably safe,” he added.

New doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August. They are aimed at the KP.2 version of the constantly mutating virus and should provide good protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death, experts say.

The United States offers only one Covid vaccine not based on mRNA: Novavax. Novavax's conventional protein-based vaccine offers an alternative vaccine technology to mRNA.

In a statement, a Novavax spokesperson said the updated vaccine is now available in thousands of retail stores and pharmacies across the country.

The Florida Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto, called Florida's recommendation “regrettable” and said it could put older adults and people with underlying medical conditions at risk.

“Although the vaccine is not any longer nearly as effective at protecting against infection because it once was, there is superb data showing how Covid vaccines can reduce the chance of severe types of the virus in those most in danger,” said Boguch, who has no ties to the vaccine makers.

In the US, Covid cases remain high after a summer surge. Wastewater data collected between August 25 and 31 shows that 23 states – including Florida – are reporting “very high” levels of the virus. in response to CDC. Emergency room visits and hospital stays remain also increasedalthough there are signs of a decline. Covid infections in Florida nursing homes are rising again after declining from summer peaks. according to CDC data.

The CDC currently recommends Everyone ages 6 months and older will receive a current Covid vaccine from one of three options this fall.

This is not the first time Ladapo has ignored CDC guidelines. Last year, Ladapo also recommended that Florida residents under 65 should not receive the mRNA Covid vaccine, citing widespread immunity and “questions we have about safety and effectiveness.”

“In my opinion, this will not be decision for young people and for individuals who will not be at high risk at this point within the pandemic,” he said.

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Vaccinations have significant protection for the general public against infectious diseases. However, there was a slight decline in support to introduce compulsory vaccination for youngsters attending public schools nationwide in 2023.

In addition, the presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading critic of childhood vaccinationhas given him a distinguished platform on which he can express his views. This features a detailed interview on “Joe Rogan Experience”, a podcast with over 14 million subscribersIn particular, former President Donald Trump has said he was against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in schoolsand in a phone call that Trump apparently didn’t know was being recorded, he said looked as if it would support Kennedy's views on vaccines.

I’m a biochemist And Molecular biologist I study the role of microbes in health and disease, teach medical students, and am concerned with the general public's understanding of science.

Here are some facts about vaccines that skeptics like Kennedy misunderstand:

Vaccines are effective and protected

Public health data from 1974 to the current suggest that vaccines a minimum of 154 million human lives worldwide within the last 50 years. Vaccines are also constant monitoring for safety within the USA

Yet the false claim that vaccines cause autism persists despite studying after graduation large populations all over the world without there being any causal relationship between them.

Claims concerning the dangers of vaccines are sometimes based on falsification of scientific research. Kennedy cites a report from 2005 It is claimed to have shown that monkeys experienced massive brain inflammation in response to the vaccination, while the authors of the study actually state that no serious medical complications occurred. A separate study from 2003 which Kennedy claimed showed a 1,135 percent increase in autism in vaccinated in comparison with unvaccinated children, in point of fact no consistent significant association was found between vaccinations and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Kennedy also claims that a Vaccine study 2002 included a control group of kids aged 6 months and younger who got tuna sandwiches contaminated with mercury. This claim is fake.

Aluminium adjuvants strengthen immunity

Kennedy is co-counsel at a law firm that Lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company Merck partly on the unsubstantiated claim that the aluminum in considered one of its vaccines causes neurological disorders. Aluminum is added to many vaccines as adjuvant to strengthen the body's immune response to the vaccine and thereby improve the body's defenses against the goal microorganism.

The law firm’s claim is based on a 2020 report shows that the brain tissue of some patients with Alzheimer's disease, autism, and multiple sclerosis has elevated aluminum levels. The authors of this study don’t claim that vaccines are the source of the aluminum, and it’s unlikely that vaccines are the perpetrator.

Notably, the brain samples analyzed on this study were from patients aged 47 to 105 years. Most persons are exposed to aluminum mainly through their weight loss program, and aluminum is is eliminated from the body inside a number of daysTherefore, it can’t be assumed that aluminium exposure from childhood vaccines persists in these patients.

Vaccines undergo the identical approval process as other medicines

Clinical trials For vaccines and other drugs, trials are blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled. In a vaccine trial, which means participants are randomly assigned to 1 group that receives the vaccine and a second group that receives a placebo saline solution. The researchers conducting the trial, and sometimes the participants, have no idea who received the vaccine or the placebo until after the trial is accomplished. This eliminates bias.

The results are published publicly. For example, data from vaccine trials for COVID-19, Human papillomaviruses And Rotavirus is accessible to everyone.

Vaccine manufacturers are answerable for injuries or deaths

Kennedy's lawsuit against Merck contradicts his claim that vaccine manufacturers are completely immune from lawsuits.

His claim is predicated on a misinterpretation of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). VICP is a federal no-fault program created to cut back frivolous lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers that could lead on to vaccine shortages and a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.

An individual claiming injury brought on by a vaccine can seek financial compensation through the VICP within the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. If the VICP denies the claim, the plaintiff can sue the vaccine manufacturer.

The Majority of cases Cases settled under the VICP lead to a negotiated settlement between the parties without the necessity to prove that a vaccine was the reason for the alleged injury. Kennedy and his law firm wrongfully used the VICP payments to claim that vaccines are unsafe.

The VICP exempts the vaccine manufacturer from responsibility provided that it has complied complied with all requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and exercised due care. This doesn’t protect the vaccine manufacturer from allegations of fraud or withholding information concerning the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine during its development or after approval.

Good nutrition and hygiene aren’t any substitute for vaccination

Kennedy claims that Populations with adequate nutrition don’t need vaccines to stop infectious diseases. While it is evident that improvements in nutrition, hygiene, water treatment, food safety and public health measures played a very important role in reducing Deaths and serious complications from infectious diseases; nonetheless, these aspects don’t make vaccinations unnecessary.

After World War II, the United States was a wealthy country with an intensive health-related infrastructure. Nevertheless, Americans on average reported 1 million cases per 12 months of infectious diseases that will be prevented today.

Vaccines introduced or expanded within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties against diseases resembling diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, polio, mumps, rubella and Haemophilus influenza type B resulted in near or complete extinction these diseases.

It is simple to forget why many infectious diseases at the moment are rare. The success of vaccines is just not at all times an excellent example of this. It must be told many times to counteract misinformation.

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