Australia has pledged another $50 million to a global immunisation alliance which it hopes could soon help tackle the Ebola epidemic.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the extra funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds immunisation programs in developing countries.
The money takes Australia's commitment over the past five years to $250 million, and makes it the alliance's seventh largest donor.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has immunised 440 million children, and says it has saved six million from diseases such as hepatitis B, measles, meningitis and yellow fever.
Ms Bishop said the alliance - which includes the World Health Organisation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - is investigating whether to help distribute an Ebola vaccine.
Two vaccines are undergoing human trials, while others are in development, she says.
Ms Bishop believes Gavi is well placed to scale up access as soon as one of the vaccines is proven safe and effective.
It could get a new vaccine to many people quickly and at an affordable price, she told a function in Canberra on Wednesday.
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