COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in many African countries for the past few weeks, with the latest surge threatening to be “[A]frica’s worst yet”, as reported by World Health Organization (WHO) regional director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. The third wave of COVID-19 cases comes during a vaccine shortage and risks overtaking the peak of the second wave.

The highly contagious Delta variant, which was first discovered in India, has been identified in 14 African countries. The rapid spread of cases has caused concern among health experts with the lack of vaccines available for the struggling continent. The WHO has appealed for more vaccines for Africa, reporting that the “third wave of COVID-19 is outpacing efforts to protect populations, leaving more and more dangerously exposed.” African countries have recorded a combined estimated total of 5 million cases and almost 140,000 deaths. The high number of deaths is associated with insufficient resources to help patients who have contracted the virus, as well as the low vaccination rates.

The COVAX program, rolled out by The WHO, has been criticized for not adequately meeting the needs of poor underdeveloped countries in their supposedly fair distribution system. According to the WHO, just 1.5% of the 2.7 billion vaccines distributed from the COVAX program were administered in Africa. Eighteen African countries have used over 80% of their vaccine stocks, and another 8 countries have fully depleted their supply.

The Associated Press has reported that in a recent analysis of COVID-19 deaths, nearly all occurred in people who were unvaccinated, highlighting how deaths per day “could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.” The African continent faces several problems, such as weak public health measures and facilities, and increased social interaction, which has resulted in the third wave’s high number of cases. The onset of this resurgence began at the beginning of May. Within a month, Africa had recorded about 474,000 new cases.

South Africa’s Gauteng province is struggling with the new waves of the Delta variant cases, with patients waiting days before being allocated hospital beds, and hospitals facing pressure with low supplies of oxygen. Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has stated “we are struggling, we are under extreme pressure, the pandemic is everywhere.” The slow vaccination progress across the continent has been a result of western countries buying out all the supplies. The WHO has deployed health experts to the worst affected countries on the continent, such as Uganda and Zambia. As well as this, they are supporting regional laboratories that are monitoring COVID-19 variants and boosting innovative technological support. However, Africa desperately needs more vaccines.

Many western countries are successfully rolling out programs for vaccinating their populations, to protect individuals and communities from the virus. Demand for this life-saving vaccine is extremely high, but many countries that desperately need it the most, are missing out. Overwhelmed countries in Africa are currently facing some of the highest numbers of cases and deaths, as well as inadequate health care, management, and access to enough vaccines. Dr. Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa has expressed his disappointment of vaccine shortages in Africa by stating that the high vaccination rates in western countries are “shaping up into a summer of freedom, family and fun for millions of people in these richer countries.” He states that “we all long for the same joys.” African nations should not face restrictions because of limited access to vaccines, which are readily available elsewhere.