Coronavirus | Global fundraising meeting raises $6.9 bln, leaders want vaccine for all
4 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus | Global fundraising meeting raises $6.9 bln, leaders want vaccine for all

The Hindu  

A global fundraising meeting on Saturday raised 6.15 billion euros from the United States, the European Commission and numerous countries to fight COVID-19, with many participants stressing that an eventual vaccine should be available to anyone who needs it. The pledging summit, part of a joint initiative by the EU executive and advocacy group Global Citizen, also included a globally televised and streamed fundraising concert featuring Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Chloe X Halle, Usher and others. The Commission together with the European Investment Bank pledged 4.9 billion euros, the United States $545 million, Germany 383 million euros, Canada C$300 million and Qatar $10 million. The EU is championing global cooperation in efforts to control and end the pandemic, in contrast to the United States and China's focus on national initiatives.

Vaccine  leaders  global  coronavirus  million  meeting  fundraising  bln  countries  vaccines  president  raises  69  euros  united  billion  vaccine  states

History of this topic

The election’s stakes for global health
2 months ago

The election’s stakes for global health

Politico  

The WHO aims to complete negotiations on a pandemic deal that could oblige drugmakers, including U.S.-based ones, to share vaccines and drugs with the developing world. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Trump would torpedo the pandemic treaty, not just withdraw the United States, but literally make it impossible to negotiate,” said Larry Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute …

Macron and African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Macron and African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities

Associated Press  

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron joined several African leaders on Thursday to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to them. Many African leaders and advocacy groups say Africa was unfairly locked out of access to COVID-19 treatment tools, vaccines and testing …

France's Macron, African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities
6 months, 2 weeks ago

France's Macron, African leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy French President Emmanuel Macron is …

African and European leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities
6 months, 3 weeks ago

African and European leaders push for vaccines for Africa after COVID-19 exposed inequalities

LA Times  

European and African leaders gather at the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator conference in Paris on June 20, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron joined several African leaders Thursday to kick off a planned $1-billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to them. Many African leaders and advocacy groups say …

World leaders launch programme to boost vaccine production in Africa
6 months, 3 weeks ago

World leaders launch programme to boost vaccine production in Africa

Al Jazeera  

Initiative announced in Paris will incentivise and offset start-up costs for vaccine manufacturing in the continent. French President Emmanuel Macron has joined several African leaders to kick off a planned $1.1bn project to accelerate vaccine production in Africa, after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequalities in access to inoculation. African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed the initiative, saying that …

AstraZeneca pulls its COVID-19 vaccine from the European market
8 months ago

AstraZeneca pulls its COVID-19 vaccine from the European market

Associated Press  

LONDON — The pharma giant AstraZeneca has requested that the European authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine be pulled, according to the EU medicines regulator. In an update on the European Medicines Agency’s website Wednesday, the regulator said that the approval for AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria had been withdrawn “at the request of the marketing authorization holder.” AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine was first given …

EU countries destroyed €4 billion worth of Covid-19 vaccines, reveals research
1 year ago

EU countries destroyed €4 billion worth of Covid-19 vaccines, reveals research

Firstpost  

Governments, including the EU’s second-most populous country France, have been reluctant to reveal the scale of the waste, but it is certain that most EU nations have resorted to wasting doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, once a much sought after commodity Nearly 215 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines purchased by EU countries at the height of the pandemic have since …

Gates Foundation funding $40 million effort to help develop mRNA vaccines in Africa in coming years
1 year, 3 months ago

Gates Foundation funding $40 million effort to help develop mRNA vaccines in Africa in coming years

The Hindu  

A $40 million investment will help several African manufacturers produce new messenger RNA vaccines on the continent where people were last in line to receive jabs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced Monday. “Whether it's for local diseases in Africa like Rift Valley or for global diseases like TB, mRNA looks like a very promising …

President Joe Biden says he will request more funding for a new coronavirus vaccine
1 year, 4 months ago

President Joe Biden says he will request more funding for a new coronavirus vaccine

Associated Press  

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California — President Joe Biden said Friday that he is planning to request more money from Congress to develop another new coronavirus vaccine, as scientists track new waves and hospitalizations rise, though not like before. “I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a …

US govt awards $1.4 bln for development of new COVID...
1 year, 4 months ago

US govt awards $1.4 bln for development of new COVID...

Daily Mail  

The Biden Administration has allocated another $1.4billion to developing Covid treatments and vaccines – despite declaring the pandemic over months ago. The news comes as hospitalizations rise for the fifth week in a row, though they are still three times lower than this time last year. Hospitalizations across the US have risen for the fifth week in a row, but …

Axed Covid vaccine contract cost taxpayers £358m
1 year, 6 months ago

Axed Covid vaccine contract cost taxpayers £358m

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A biotechnology company which had its contract to make Covid …

Draft WHO pandemic deal pushes for equity to avoid COVID ’failure’ repeat
1 year, 11 months ago

Draft WHO pandemic deal pushes for equity to avoid COVID ’failure’ repeat

Live Mint  

Governments may have to reserve drugs and vaccines for the World Health Organization to distribute in poorer countries to avoid a repeat of the "catastrophic failure" during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an early draft of a global pandemic agreement. The draft also retains earlier provisions that could see pharmaceutical companies made to release details of any public contracts for …

'Offer stands' to send Covid vaccines to China, but supplies would be 'dependent on reaction': EU
2 years ago

'Offer stands' to send Covid vaccines to China, but supplies would be 'dependent on reaction': EU

Firstpost  

Brussels: The EU said Tuesday it is prepared to send Covid vaccines to China as it grapples with a surge in coronavirus infections after lifting its “zero-Covid” policy. A European Commission spokeswoman, Dana Spinant, said the bloc months ago proposed giving vaccines and Covid expertise to Beijing and “the offer stands”. Many EU countries have a surplus of mRNA vaccines …

Explained | Can vaccine distribution be made fairer?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Can vaccine distribution be made fairer?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Global Dashboard for Vaccine Equity, a joint effort by the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the University of Oxford with cooperation across the UN system, has put out recent data that justifies the vexatious core of the vaccine distribution programme: Only one in four people has been vaccinated with at least …

WHO says new COVID-19 wave emerging in Europe
2 years, 2 months ago

WHO says new COVID-19 wave emerging in Europe

Al Jazeera  

UN agency’s regional data show only Europe with an increase in coronavirus cases in the week that ended October 2 as infections rose 8 percent from the week before. “Although we are not where we were one year ago, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over,” the WHO’s Europe director, Hans Kluge, and the ECDC’s director, …

World leaders pledge billions to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria
2 years, 3 months ago

World leaders pledge billions to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria

Al Jazeera  

Donor conference on the sidelines of UN meeting raises record $14.25bn, although UK and Italy delay announcement on commitments. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has secured $14.25bn in crucial new funding, after decades of progress against the diseases was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “What’s happened today is actually an unparalleled mobilisation of resources for global …

GAVI financing to allow for immediate funds for next pandemic
2 years, 3 months ago

GAVI financing to allow for immediate funds for next pandemic

Live Mint  

Global vaccine alliance GAVI has set up financial instruments that will allow the group to immediately access pledged donor funding if it needs to buy vaccines for future pandemics, Chief Executive Seth Berkley told Reuters. Berkley said that in 2020 and 2021, GAVI was limited in its ability to buy COVID-19 vaccines because even though donors had committed $2.4 billion, …

In race for monkeypox vaccines, experts see repeat of COVID-19
2 years, 5 months ago

In race for monkeypox vaccines, experts see repeat of COVID-19

The Hindu  

Moves by rich countries to buy large quantities of monkeypox vaccine, while declining to share doses with Africa, could leave millions of people unprotected against a more dangerous version of the disease and risk continued spillovers of the virus into humans, public health officials are warning. Yet while monkeypox is much harder to spread than COVID-19, experts warn that if …

Coronavirus pushed up health spending by €466 per person in 2021
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus pushed up health spending by €466 per person in 2021

Dutch News  

Healthcare spending went up by €466 per person in 2021, largely as a result of coronavirus-related costs such as testing and vaccination. The statistics agency CBS said spending was 7.6% higher than in 2020, when the costs went up by 8.3% or €475 per person compared to 2019. The 2020 increases were mainly due to the €2.1 billion healthcare bonus …

Coronavirus pushed up health spending by €466 per person in 2021
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus pushed up health spending by €466 per person in 2021

Dutch News  

Healthcare spending went up by €466 per person in 2021, largely as a result of coronavirus-related costs such as testing and vaccination. The statistics agency CBS said spending was 7.6% higher than in 2020, when the costs went up by 8.3% or €475 per person compared to 2019. The 2020 increases were mainly due to the €2.1 billion healthcare bonus …

WHO: COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO: COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The number of new coronavirus cases rose by 18% in the last week, with more than 4.1 million cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization. The biggest weekly rise in new COVID-19 cases was seen in the Middle East, where they increased by 47%, according to the report released late Wednesday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus …

COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world, WHO reports
2 years, 6 months ago

COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world, WHO reports

LA Times  

Adm. Rachel Levine, the Department of Health and Human Services assistant secretary for health, watches a pediatric vaccination in Miami on June 28. The worldwide number of new coronavirus cases rose by 18% in the last week, with more than 4.1 million cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization. The United Nations health agency said in its latest …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

Associated Press  

LONDON — The World Health Organization said it’s creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. WHO’s Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge, said Wednesday he was concerned by the scramble by some rich countries to buy more vaccines without talk of buying supplies for Africa. Kluge urged governments “to approach …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

The Hindu  

The World Health Organisation said it's creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. WHO's Europe director, Hans Kluge, said on June 15 he was concerned by the scramble by some rich countries to buy more vaccines without talk of buying supplies for Africa. Mr. Kluge urged governments "to approach …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

LA Times  

These mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and immature, spherical virions, right, were obtained from a person infected during a 2003 outbreak. The World Health Organization said it’s creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. The WHO has described the outbreak as “unusual” and said the virus’ continuing spread was …

Pfizer to offer low-cost medicines, vaccines to poor nations
2 years, 7 months ago

Pfizer to offer low-cost medicines, vaccines to poor nations

Associated Press  

Pfizer said Wednesday that it will provide nearly two dozen products, including its top-selling COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, at not-for-profit prices in some of the world’s poorest countries. The drugmaker announced the program at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, and said it was aimed at improving health equity in 45 lower-income countries. “What we discovered through …

Pfizer to offer low-cost drugs to 45 lower-income nations
2 years, 7 months ago

Pfizer to offer low-cost drugs to 45 lower-income nations

Al Jazeera  

US pharmaceutical giant says it will sell patented drugs on a not-for-profit basis to world’s poorest countries. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has said it would sell its patented drugs on a not-for-profit basis to the world’s poorest countries, as part of a new initiative announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “An Accord for a Healthier World” focuses on …

White House says COVID-19 vaccines, treatments could be rationed without more funds
2 years, 7 months ago

White House says COVID-19 vaccines, treatments could be rationed without more funds

LA Times  

The White House is planning for “dire” contingencies that could include rationing supplies of vaccines and treatments this fall if Congress doesn’t approve more money for fighting COVID-19. “But we’re looking at all the scenarios and planning for all of them.” He said the administration was “getting much more into the scenario-planning business to make sure that we know what …

Still far from normal: Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in 36 countries
2 years, 7 months ago

Still far from normal: Covid-19 cases rising rapidly in 36 countries

India Today  

Even as world leaders debated Covid-19 related issues at a virtual summit on Thursday, May 12, the pandemic has not shown any signs of disappearing from our lives. The latest data shows: New cases are still rising in 89 countries, including the US, weekly trends show. The latest weekly situation report of the WHO said during the week through May …

Biden marks COVID ‘tragic milestone’ in US at global summit
2 years, 7 months ago

Biden marks COVID ‘tragic milestone’ in US at global summit

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders at a COVID-19 summit Thursday to reenergize a lagging international commitment to attacking the virus as he led the U.S. in marking the “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths in America. He spoke solemnly of the once-unthinkable U.S. toll: “1 million empty chairs around the family dinner table.” The coronavirus has …

Biden urges global COVID fight, US nears 1 million deaths
2 years, 7 months ago

Biden urges global COVID fight, US nears 1 million deaths

Al Jazeera  

World leaders held a summit to discuss efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future health threats. United States President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders to commit to a renewed international effort to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, as he marked the approaching “tragic milestone” of one million deaths from the virus in the US. “Today, we mark …

UN official urges acceleration in coronavirus vaccinations
2 years, 8 months ago

UN official urges acceleration in coronavirus vaccinations

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. official spearheading global vaccination efforts against the coronavirus said Monday the number of countries where 10% or less of the population has been vaccinated dropped from 34 to 18 since January and called for accelerated progress to end the pandemic. Assistant Secretary-General Ted Chaiban told the U.N. Security Council that with over 6 million lives …

Experts say U.S. suspension of COVID aid will prolong pandemic
2 years, 9 months ago

Experts say U.S. suspension of COVID aid will prolong pandemic

LA Times  

In the latest Senate package targeted at stopping the coronavirus, U.S. lawmakers dropped nearly all funding for curbing the virus beyond American borders — a move many health experts slammed as dangerously short-sighted. He said Uganda has leaned heavily on donor help — it received more than 11 million vaccines from the U.S. — and that any cuts “would make …

Rich countries getting new COVID vaccine before poorer ones
2 years, 9 months ago

Rich countries getting new COVID vaccine before poorer ones

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — The company behind a COVID-19 vaccine touted as a key tool for the developing world has sent tens of millions of doses to wealthy nations but provided none yet to the U.N.-backed effort to supply poorer countries, a sign that inequity persists in the global response to the pandemic. The company, Novavax, got $388 million from one …

Op-Ed: What will it take to make a universal COVID vaccine?
2 years, 9 months ago

Op-Ed: What will it take to make a universal COVID vaccine?

LA Times  

As California emerges from Omicron, other places are again in lockdown or facing record caseloads after trying and failing to avoid the variant. Since this protein is so prone to mutation, making it harder for the body to recognize in future variants, a more universal vaccine must target parts of the virus that are shared among several viruses in the …

White House warns of ‘severe consequences’ if Congress doesn’t pass supplemental Covid funding
2 years, 9 months ago

White House warns of ‘severe consequences’ if Congress doesn’t pass supplemental Covid funding

CNN  

CNN — White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients on Monday renewed the Biden administration’s urgent call for Congress to pass pandemic supplemental funding or face “severe consequences.” His remarks came amid uncertainty for the legislative path forward for additional money for the federal government’s pandemic response. We sent Congress a targeted request for $22.5 billion to meet those urgent …

UK pledges £160m to help accelerate vaccine development
2 years, 10 months ago

UK pledges £160m to help accelerate vaccine development

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: …

EU praises vaccine cooperation with Africa at summit
2 years, 10 months ago

EU praises vaccine cooperation with Africa at summit

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders on Thursday lauded the bloc’s vaccine cooperation with Africa in the fight against the coronavirus, but there was no sign they would move toward a temporary lifting of intellectual property rights protection for COVID-19 shots. “It is about the capacity of Africa to produce their own vaccines, to develop mRNA manufacturing capacity across Africa,” von …

Coronavirus live |
2 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus live |

The Hindu  

It is too early to say anything definite on the COVID-19 pandemic becoming an endemic, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday while inaugurating the revamped canteen of the Ministry. National India adds 30,757 COVID-19 cases, tally increased to 4,27,54,315 With 30,757 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of cases rose to …

AP sources: White House seeks another $30B for COVID battle
2 years, 10 months ago

AP sources: White House seeks another $30B for COVID battle

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is telling Congress that it needs an additional $30 billion to press ahead with the fight against COVID-19, officials said. Two people familiar with the administration’s plan confirmed key details on Tuesday: $17.9 billion for vaccines and treatments, $4.9 billion for testing, $3 billion to cover coronavirus care for uninsured people, and $3.7 billion to …

WHO: Europe entering ‘plausible endgame’ to COVID pandemic
2 years, 11 months ago

WHO: Europe entering ‘plausible endgame’ to COVID pandemic

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN — The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Thursday the continent is now entering a “plausible endgame” to the pandemic and that the number of coronavirus deaths is starting to plateau. Dr. Hans Kluge said at a media briefing that there is a “singular opportunity” for countries across Europe to take control of COVID-19 transmission due …

Govt Slashing Covid Vax Budget Could Mean People Buying Booster Dose on Their Own, Say Experts
2 years, 11 months ago

Govt Slashing Covid Vax Budget Could Mean People Buying Booster Dose on Their Own, Say Experts

News 18  

The proposal of Rs 5,000 crore Covid-19 vaccination Budget for this year hints that the Centre has done its job of providing free vaccines across the country and people may have to shell out for booster shots, according to experts. Rs 5,000 crore Enough for Jabbing Remaining Population According to health and public policy experts, the budget of Rs 5,000 …

EU ombudsman slams executive arm over vaccine communication
2 years, 11 months ago

EU ombudsman slams executive arm over vaccine communication

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s executive arm is responsible of “maladministration” for mishandling a request for access to text messages between its president and the CEO of pharmaceutical company Pfizer regarding COVID-19 vaccine purchases, the bloc’s ombudsman said Friday. In April last year, a story published by the New York Times revealed that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen …

Accepting Covid-19 virus: European countries to adopt new strategy
2 years, 11 months ago

Accepting Covid-19 virus: European countries to adopt new strategy

India Today  

When the coronavirus pandemic was first declared, Spaniards were ordered to stay home for more than three months. Sánchez said the changes should not happen before the omicron surge is over, but officials need to start shaping the post-pandemic world now: “We are doing our homework, anticipating scenarios.” READ | Cheap version of Merck Covid pill to be made for …

Europe considers new COVID-19 strategy: Accepting the virus
2 years, 11 months ago

Europe considers new COVID-19 strategy: Accepting the virus

Associated Press  

MADRID — When the coronavirus pandemic was first declared, Spaniards were ordered to stay home for more than three months. Speaking at a World Economic Forum panel on Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases doctor in the U.S., said COVID-19 could not be considered endemic until it drops to “a level that it doesn’t disrupt society.” The European …

Poorer nations reject over 100 million Covid shots as many close to expiry
2 years, 11 months ago

Poorer nations reject over 100 million Covid shots as many close to expiry

India Today  

Poorer nations last month rejected more than 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines distributed by the global programme COVAX, mainly due to their rapid expiry date, a UNICEF official said on Thursday. UNICEF's data on supplies and use of delivered vaccines show that 681 million shipped doses are currently stored in about 90 poorer nations, according to CARE, a charity, …

The world has failed at vaccine equity. Will 2022 be different?
3 years ago

The world has failed at vaccine equity. Will 2022 be different?

Al Jazeera  

On December 4, 2020, a 90-year-old grandmother in the United Kingdom became the first person in the world to receive a vaccine proven to be highly effective against COVID-19, kicking off a rollout of inoculants developed with unprecedented speed under dire circumstances in high-income countries across the globe. “I think that’s unquestionable.” The COVAX scheme initially aimed to achieve a …

US pledges $580m to international COVID fight amid Omicron spread
3 years ago

US pledges $580m to international COVID fight amid Omicron spread

Al Jazeera  

The announcement comes as the Biden administration released a raft of measures aimed at ramping up domestic response. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement on Tuesday, shortly before he said he is set to meet his counterparts from other countries to discuss global cooperation in responding to Omicron, which officials say has already become the dominant strain …

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines are not the solution
3 years ago

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines are not the solution

Al Jazeera  

Government imposed vaccine mandates, while tempting in the short term, may have grave consequences for us all. Policymakers in many countries may, therefore, be tempted to follow Austria’s lead and introduce vaccine mandates in the near future to reduce hospitalisation rates and avoid more economically damaging restrictions. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already called for a debate …

WHO warns against rich nations hoarding jabs to fight Omicron
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO warns against rich nations hoarding jabs to fight Omicron

Al Jazeera  

Key problem for international dose-sharing programme is wealthy countries donating COVID-19 vaccines with short shelf life, WHO says. The World Health Organization official has warned that wealthy countries may start hoarding COVID-19 vaccines again, threatening global supplies as they seek to shore up stocks to fight the new Omicron variant of coronavirus. The comments on Thursday by the agency’s vaccine …

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