
In 1952, polio ravaged the country, with over 20,000 Americans, mostly children, paralyzed. Public pools and movie theaters closed and windows were shut in the heat of the summer. Parents feared their kids would have to live in iron lungs to breathe. On April 12, 1955, millions gathered around their radios to hear the announcement that Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was safe and effective. Church bells rang out as family members embraced, hopeful at last.
We are now faced with another dangerous pandemic, COVID-19, which has killed over a million people worldwide, closed schools and businesses, and kept us away from sports, entertainment, and our friends and family. While we all know that face-mask wearing and social distancing are essential, many people worry about the disruption in our children’s education, the economy, and our mental well-being.
Fortunately, the unprecedented effort to quickly discover a COVID-19 vaccine has paid off. In Pfizer’s clinical trial, 170 of the 40,000 volunteers got COVID-19 but only 8 of those had received the vaccine. Only 1 of the 10 severe cases had gotten the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna had similar results with 30,000 volunteers and 95 getting the virus, with only 5 who received the vaccine. None who had the Moderna vaccine became severely ill. While the trials were completed quickly, scientific standards were followed and no shortcuts were made. The high prevalence of COVID-19 allowed enough people in the trials to catch the virus and give us these results sooner.
Side effects are expected to occur in 10-15% of people vaccinated including fatigue, muscle, and joint aches, headaches, and pain or redness at the injection site, typically going away after one or two days. People should expect to be somewhat more uncomfortable than with the typical flu shots and consider taking the next day off from work. These symptoms are all signs that the vaccine is working. No long term side effects have been seen in vaccine trials. A second dose is required in three to four weeks before the vaccine will protect you.
In deciding whether to get the vaccine, compare the risk of one or two days of tiredness and aches with the known COVID-19 risks of heart and lung damage, strokes, and potentially death. A study showed that 2 months after being hospitalized with the virus, one-third of people still had trouble breathing. Experts all agree that getting COVID-19 is far more dangerous than any potential risk from the vaccine. It is safe for people who have had COVID-19 to get vaccinated, and vaccination remains important since those who had a mild illness may not be immune from getting re-infected.
New Hampshire has a detailed plan for vaccinations including 4 phases: initially health care workers, first responders, and then those in long-term care facilities or with high-risk health conditions. This first group will be followed by teachers, child-care workers, essential industry workers, and older adults. Finally, children, young adults, and then the entire public will be eligible. It will likely be April before everyone has an opportunity to be vaccinated. Thus, it is critical that we all continue to maintain social distancing and wear masks over both nose and mouth to prevent further increases in the spread of COVID-19 while we wait for a vaccine.
Plymouth, NH – Renovations are underway at Mid-State Health Center’s Plymouth office to create specially designed space to expand the community’s access to COVID-19 testing.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded nearly $583 million to 1,385 HRSA-funded health centers, including Mid-State, to expand COVID-19 testing.

Mid-State has contracted Nickerson Designs to transform a portion of their existing lobby into a specially-designed space for COVID-19 testing. The newly renovated space will increase community access to COVID-19 testing while decreasing the risk of exposure to the virus for its staff and patients. The renovation will enable Mid-State providers to continue to provide high-quality health care to everyone in the community and better protect staff and patients.
“Mid-State has been dedicated to providing high-quality health care to the community, even now more than ever. This renovation is another way that Mid-State ensures patient access to health care services that are needed most, which currently is COVID-19 testing. While we expand our testing capabilities in the coming winter months, the re-designed space will ensure our space is comfortable for our patients to seek the primary care services they need”, said Mid-State Chief Executive Officer Robert MacLeod.
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Construction is will begin on November 16, 2020 and is planned to be completed in early January 2021. Mid-State Health Center at Boulder Point will remain open during normal hours during

Dr. Jennifer Bentwood has returned to New Hampshire, joining Speare’s Plymouth OB/GYN practice where she will provide women’s health services and Mid-State Health Center’s Bristol office where she will provide family medicine services.
Having earned her medical degree at Dartmouth School of Medicine, Dr. Bentwood is pleased that her medical career has brought her back to New Hampshire.
“I feel fortunate that I can come back to my home town, raise my children, practice medicine, and be a part of a community as supportive as Plymouth,” she says.
Board-certified in family medicine and fellowship-trained in high-risk obstetrics, Dr. Bentwood specializes in family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology. She has a special interest in the care of women and children and preventing chronic disease through lifestyle and dietary changes.
“As a family doctor who also practices obstetrics, I get to be part of some the most significant events in a family’s life, from the birth of a child to the passing of a grandparent,” says Dr. Bentwood. “The opportunity to develop a relationship with an entire family, often with multiple generations, is the best part of my job.”
To become a patient of Dr. Bentwood call:
Mid-State Health Center 603-744-6200
Plymouth OB/GYN 603-536-1104

Mad River Tents generous donation helps Mid-State continue to see its patients.
In March, as part of its response to COVID-19, Mid-State moved quickly to a telehealth model of care for most of its patients, but there were many high-risk patients who required an in-person visit with their care team to stay well. Thanks to the tent generously donated by Mad River Tents located in Campton, New Hampshire, Mid-State launched a temporary outdoor care model to ensure its patients could be seen for their healthcare needs in a safe and convenient location.
Mid-State’s Medical Director, Dr. David Fagan said “thanks to the help from Jessie at Mad River Tents our care team was able to quickly adapt and ensure the safety of our patients”.
Staying healthy is one of the best ways to combat the impact of the coronavirus and Mid-State’s commitment to providing primary care to the community has never been more important. As Mid-State’s care team and its patients return to the more familiar in-person visits, Mid-State has a plan in place for those who require limited exposure during their visit.
Mid-State and its entire care team extend their appreciation to Jessie Solberg of Mad River Tents for supporting them in their mission to provide sound primary care to the entire community during these challenging times.
As the region returns to work and more people are out and about, patients can schedule a visit with their provider for all of their regular visits as well as things like flu-like symptoms, rash and hives, and behavioral health support. Call today to schedule (603) 536-4000.

Dr. David Fagan, MD
Dr. David Fagan, a longtime Internal Medicine physician at Mid-State, began in his new role as Medical Director in early May. Dr. David Fagan brings extensive experience working in clinical health care in a career that spans more than thirty years with over ten years as part of our care team.
“Dr. Fagan brings a wealth of knowledge, operational experience, and innovation to his new leadership role,” Mid-State Chief Executive Officer Robert MacLeod says. Most recently, Dr. Fagan has been instrumental in leading the health center’s successful response to Covid-19 with his steadfast commitment to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

Mid-State Health Center is also pleased to welcome Stephen Regan, MD, to our care team in Plymouth. Dr. Regan specializes in internal medicine providing primary care for adults. Dr. Regan received both his undergraduate degree and completed medical school at Boston University. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Vermont.
Post residency, Dr. Regan ‘s long-term post was with Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, NH where he practiced Hospital Medicine, including caring for acutely ill patients in the emergency room and intensive care unit. Dr. Regan joins Mid-State’s care team with over twenty-three years of hospitalist and emergency medicine experience. Dr. Regan specializes in treating adult men and women for both common and complex illnesses.
Robert MacLeod, shared, “We are delighted to have a clinician of Stephen’s caliber joining our staff. His expertise and commitment to the health of our community makes him an excellent addition to the Mid-State team.”
Dr. Regan is now accepting new patients at Mid-State. To learn more about to enroll as a patient call 603-536-4000.