For the majority of students in New York, a new school year starts again next week. But as New Yorkers enter another year of the pandemic and the rise of other infectious diseases, how can they ensure their children are safe?

“The number one thing here is to keep kids healthy and in school. And the number one things parents can do is get their child vaccinated,” state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.

Bassett said school-aged children who are 5 and older can take advantage of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The commissioner said parents shouldn't skip out on vaccines for other diseases, especially now with an uptick in polio cases.

“We’ve now identified it most recently in Sullivan County, but it’s been identified in New York City, in Rockland County and in Orange County through wastewater, but tragically, we have one individual, a young adult, who was paralyzed by polio here in the 21st century and an unvaccinated individual,” Bassett said.

Monkeypox is also on the rise, something parents should be aware of. Bassett said the state is approaching 3,500 cases, with the majority of them in New York City.

“We all know that monkeypox has been spreading predominantly amongst social networks of men who have sex with men. It can spread by skin-to-skin contact to anybody, but that’s where it has been established and spreading,” Bassett said.

Bassett repeated the best way to stay safe this school year is to be vigilant and take advantage of vaccines.