By March 8, 150,000 Mainers had received both shots of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, according to WMTW Channel 8 News. According to the CDC, you can expect full protection with both of these vaccines two weeks after the second shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requirement: Wait 21 days for the second injection. In the case of the newly emergency-approved Johnson & Johnson, one-shot vaccine, you are fully vaccinated two weeks after the shot.

But which vaccine is better? According to the CDC, “All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19.”

The most common side effects you might experience are pain at the injection site, especially after the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer; short lasting flu-like symptoms such as feeling tired and having muscle pains, fever and chills, nausea and a headache. To help ease this reaction, the CDC recommends over the counter medications including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antihistamines, or aspirin if you can take it.

If you have an allergic reaction to the shot immediately or over the next four hours, you can experience hives, swelling and/or wheezing. A severe reaction calls for treatment with an EpiPen or a trip to the hospital.

Since Feb. 25, Boothbay Region YMCA’s Marylouise Tandy Cowan Field House has been a vaccination site. John Martins, director of communications and public affairs at LincolnHealth, has heard of no severe reactions from people who received shots there.

“One of the precautions we follow is with people who have had any type of reaction to any other vaccine,” Martins said. “Instead of making the individual wait for 15 minutes, we extend the time to 30 minutes.

“We do hear reports of soreness at the injection site with both first and second doses,” Martins continued. “There have been reports of fatigue and soreness with the second dose, but the onset of these are usually the day after the vaccine, or so it has seemed.”

On March 8, Martins sent the following statistics for the clinic: First dose: 4,200; and second dose: 1,941.

On March 2, President Joe Biden directed states to prioritize teachers, school staff and child care workers to receive at least one shot by the end of this month. Starting March 3, people aged 60 and over could make an appointment for their shots.

Remember to bring a photo ID and proof of Maine residence to the vaccination location. Bring a license or state ID card; and a bill or other piece of mail with your address; and an EBT, MaineCare ID card, or other document to confirm your name and age.

In Lincoln County, appointments are scheduled through MaineHealth by calling or texting 877-780-7545. You will receive a call or text message confirming your place on the list. All vaccine locations have a no walk-ins policy.

Appointments are also being made on the websites of Walgreens, Hannaford and Walmart. Do not contact the pharmacies.

Register for V-Safe, to take part in the health survey to share what side effects, if any, you experience after vaccination(s). After you provide information, the CDC will send text messages to your smartphone with survey links daily for the first week. After the first week, texts will continue weekly for six weeks so the CDC can monitor participants’ progress in building immunity. Subsequent text message checks are at three, six and 12 months. If interested, visit https://vsafe.cdc.gov