Symposium report of the 17th annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Vaccinology, 2013: Bacterial vaccines: Effectiveness and issues.

•Indications and timing of BCG should be reconsidered.•Invasive infections by Hib and S. pneumoniae markedly decreased among children.•Serotype replacement in H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae should be monitored.•Studies on the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines are anticipated.•Evaluation of pertussis disease burden and countermeasures should be required.