Africa may have to wait until mid-2021 to begin mass COVID-19 vaccinations, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Thursday.

"We are very concerned as a continent that we will not have access to vaccines in a timely fashion," Reuters quotes John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC.

"It will not be, in my view, up to (the) middle of next year before we truly start to get vaccination into Africa," he added.

The world is gearing up for the approval of COVID-19 vaccines as various organizations are in the final stages of the approval process.

Various world leaders and agencies, including the World Health Organization, have urged for timely and equitable distribution of any approved vaccine around the world.

In his comments, Nkengasong also voiced worry over logistical problems that may hinder safe distribution of vaccines.

As of Thursday, the continent had reported 2,106,931 confirmed COVID-19 infections with 50,628 deaths, according to the Africa CDC.

Nkengasong said the agency aims to have 60% of the continent's population vaccinated eventually.