An article and editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine of August 21, 2008 questioned the efficacy and appropriateness of the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine in young women, which concerned many parents in our practice. The article actually focused on the cost and health care policy implications of the vaccine rather than its safety and effectiveness in individuals. Both Dr. Kanner and Dr. Isselbacher believe the public policy concerns that were raised in that article do not trump the HPV vaccine’s continued usefulness for our young women.