A World Health Organization expert panel on Friday recommended pilot roll-outs of the world's most advanced vaccine against malaria in several districts in sub-Saharan Africa, before considering wider use.

The expert panel, brought in to advise the UN health agency on immunisation policies, said the Mosquirix or RTS,S vaccine, should be given in three to five districts with moderate-to-high malaria transmission.

The aim would be to assess its protective effect and whether it will be practical to administer four doses in routine vaccination programmes.