(Radio Iowa) — As Iowa kids get their back-to-school physicals, it’s a good time to get them vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. H-P-V is easily-transmitted and can cause six types of cancer. While there is no treatment for H-P-V, Tessa Allred, program coordinator with the Iowa Cancer Consortium, says a safe vaccine series is available. “A lot of parents are getting their kids in for wellness visits and getting them ready to go back to school so it’s a good time for them to talk to their providers about the vaccines they’ll need,” Allred says, “which includes the HPV vaccine which is recommended for adolescents age 11 and 12.”

A report from the Iowa Department of Public Health found only 42-percent of girls and 36-percent of boys have completed their H-P-V vaccination series. The consortium has set a goal to increase H-P-V vaccination rates for Iowa teens between 13 and 15-years-old to 60-percent by 2022. “We’re actually producing a video right now that features a couple of cervical cancer survivors,” Allred says. “What they’re doing is sharing what their experience was like and why they wished they would have had the opportunity to get this vaccine when they were 11 or 12.”

If all children were vaccinated, she says, so many cancers could be prevented. “There are a couple of other states that actually require the HPV vaccine before school,” Allred says. “Iowa does not currently require it but it’s a vaccine that is highly recommended.” Most insurance policies cover the shots, she says, and if they’re not covered, there are several reimbursement programs. The Iowa Cancer Consortium is billed as a partnership of more than 400 health care providers, public health professionals, caregivers, researchers, cancer survivors, volunteers and other Iowans who work together to reduce the burden of cancer in our state.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man and woman from Pottawattamie County were arrested late Friday on separate charges following a traffic stop. 37-year old Danielle Rene Adams, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Page County warrant for two counts of Theft in the 5th Degree. Adams was turned over to Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, and was being held in the Page County Jail on a $600 cash bond. 21-year old John Leroy Adams, also of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Police, Friday evening, arrested 43-year old Marcus Eugene Johnson, of Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody at around 7:35-p.m. in the 300 block of 4th Avenue, on a felony charge of Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Johnson’s bond was set at $5,000.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that on Friday evening, the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on I-29 around the Nebraska City exit in Fremont County. During the course of the stop, 50-year old John Tracy Miller, of Hamburg, was found to be in possession of 59 grams of Methamphetamine.

Miller was previously released from corrections in January of this year for delivery of methamphetamine. He was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and is being charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

Miller is currently being held on $100,000.00 cash bond. The case is still on going, with pending charges in other incidents. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mills Co K9 Unit.

John Tracy Miller