ADDIS ABABA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Inadequate access to COVID-19 vaccines is causing growing worries over the huge vaccination gap in Africa as total confirmed cases in the continent topped five million amid a third wave of COVID-19 infections.

In an update, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that as of Saturday noon, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had reached 5,011,502 as the death toll from the pandemic hit 134,239. Meanwhile, recoveries stood at 4,504,296.

COVID-19 THIRD WAVE SPURS SURGE IN NEW INFECTIONS

Ahmed Ogwell, deputy director of the Africa CDC, told Xinhua on Saturday that the continent is now experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections, which could further exacerbate the infection rate.

"What we see in general is that we are slowly getting into the third wave of the pandemic as the numbers continue to increase," he said.

In the past week alone, African countries reported a total of 94,145 new cases, up 26 percent from the previous week. In comparison, the figure stood at just 59,879 in the first week last month, according to Africa CDC statistics.

The southern Africa region accounted for 51 percent of new cases registered in the past week. Countries including South Africa, Zambia, and Uganda, in particular, have all seen new infections surge in recent weeks.

In Zambia, new cases topped 2,000 in both of the past two days. Kennedy Malama, permanent secretary of technical services at the Ministry of Health, said isolation facilities were filling up at an alarming rate and health workers were being stretched.

In Uganda and South Africa, some of the lockdown measures have been re-imposed as cases are rapidly increasing.

The Africa CDC attributed the recent spikes to the fast-spreading new COVID-19 variants across the continent, as some 13 African countries are presently facing the B.1.617.2 variant, originally reported in India.

INADEQUATE VACCINE ACCESS WORSENS VACCINATION GAP

According to the Africa CDC, African countries have acquired around 54.9 million COVID-19 vaccines so far. However, only about 0.6 percent of Africa's population have received a full vaccine regimen.

"We do not have enough vaccines on the continent. In fact, we are lagging behind in a very significant way from the plan that we had at the beginning and this is creating a lot of concern," Ogwell said.

Ogwell said countries manufacturing vaccines are not making vaccines available as per earlier agreements, and some countries are blocking the vaccines from going to Africa because their domestic use is prioritized.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, said that as vulnerable groups, such as health care workers and the elderly, as well as people with underlying conditions, have been missing the vital jab, the COVID-19 situation in Africa could be further exacerbated.

"I think it is important to point out that vaccine nationalism is really an affront on human rights," he said, adding that it is also an economic matter. "As long as this virus remains in circulation, the economic viability of the countries concerned is not assured. Social restrictions slow down economic activities, meaning more countries, more populations are facing economic hardships."

Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said that the developed nations and other countries capable of producing vaccines should ramp up the vaccine supply to Africa.

"It is very important that we have to have the vaccines as soon as possible," the expert said, adding that developed countries hindering the flow of vaccines to the third world is "a shame."

CHINA CALLS FOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS IN HELPING AFRICA

China has thus far been an important source of vaccines for Africa. Government data show more than 30 African countries have received or are set to receive vaccines produced by Chinese manufacturers.

On June 4, Chad received a donation of vaccines from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

Chadian Minister of Public Health and National Solidarity Abdoulaye Saber Fadoul thanked China for the donation of vaccines and many batches of medical equipment to the West African country.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month called on all countries that are capable of doing so to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Africa as quickly as possible.

In the face of this unprecedented pandemic, China and Africa are willing to jointly launch a partnership initiative to support Africa's development, Wang said during a United Nations Security Council open debate on Peace and Security in Africa.

Wang added that 46 Chinese medical teams based in Africa had immediately stepped up to the plate to support local response efforts, and China has sent 15 ad hoc medical expert teams to Africa and swiftly set up a cooperation mechanism for Chinese hospitals to pair up with 43 African hospitals.

China is donating COVID-19 vaccine doses to different African countries and these donations are contributing to the continent's vaccination drive for the population, Ogwell said.

Adhere believes that China has demonstrated tangible commitments to assist Africa in its fight against the pandemic as per its initial promises to make the vaccines "a global public good."

The expert also welcomes China's move to help Africa with the production of COVID-19 vaccines.

Last month, Egypt received the first batch of raw materials to manufacture China's Sinovac vaccine. Moreover, a new shipment of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines also arrived at the Cairo International Airport.

Costantinos said China's COVID-19 vaccine support to Africa and elsewhere across the developing world is saving lives and helping control the pandemic globally. Enditem

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