Health authorities in Burkina Faso have granted approval for the use of a new malaria vaccine on young children, raising hopes for saving millions of lives.

The R21 vaccine has already received approval in Ghana and Nigeria.

Malaria remains the leading cause of infant mortality in Burkina Faso, making the introduction of this new vaccine a crucial step in the fight against the disease, according to Health Minister Robert Kargougou.

Successful trials involving 5,000 children have been conducted for the R21 vaccine.

This vaccine will be made available for children aged between five months and 36 months, and each dose is expected to cost a couple of US dollars.

The Serum Institute of India has the capacity to produce two million doses annually, and there are plans to establish a factory in Ghana, where the use of the vaccine has already been approved, along with Nigeria