Kids in the Hudson Valley and beyond are preparing to head back to classrooms, but there are still some lingering health concerns.

COVID, monkeypox and even polio are spooking some parents, but experts say there are some easy ways to keep parents from getting too stressed out.

Meghan Gill is a mom of three young children ages 4, 2 and 3 months. These days, the health headlines are concerning.

"I’m definitely following monkeypox closely, reading the news and, of course, it’s a concern, but COVID is just so widespread and so contagious, and I only have one kid vaccinated right now. I’m much more worried about COVID," said Gill, who resides in Ulster County, which announced its first case of monkeypox a few days ago.

The case joins the more than 7,500 nationwide.

Gill said she’s trying to stay informed.

"Luckily, at this point, we’re used to taking precautions, between masking, handwashing and social distancing," she said.

Dr. Neal Smoller, owner of Village Apothecary in Woodstock, said parents are taking the right steps to ensure kids are protected against everything that’s out there. It starts with being properly vaccinated, he said.

"The best thing we can do to protect ourselves from COVID is vaccination," said Smoller. "Vaccines are now available in New York state at pharmacies from ages 3 and above, and from pediatricians from 6 months and above."

Smoller is also keeping an eye on monkeypox.

"It seems to be only spreading through intimate contact so health care workers, people in relationships or even like touching wounds or sharing secretions," said Smoller. "It’s a very limited number of people that can get it, but it could be spread via respiratory droplets."

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is a limited supply of the monkeypox vaccine.

Smoller is watching developments surrounding polio. Rockland County announced a case of paralytic polio in July. Orange County also reported it recently detected polio in wastewater testing.

"If it’s showing up in the wastewater, which is an amazing public health screening tool, if it’s showing up there, then that means it’s around in a much higher percentage," said Smoller.

Gill said her children are vaccinated for polio. But she's still worried about it and everything else out there.

"It’s pretty stressful being a parent right now," Gill said. "It’s a lot to worry about, a lot to think about, all the precautions that you have to take," said Gill.

For more information on COVID, monkeypox or polio, visit CDC.gov.