As the number of active COVID-19 cases in the Berkshires reaches record levels, the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine are arriving at Berkshire Medical Center Tuesday.

The first vaccines will be administered starting on Thursday.

This batch includes nearly 2,000 doses, which will be for staff at Berkshire Health Systems' locations across the county.

The Berkshire Innovation Center donated an ultra-cold freezer to B.H.S. to store the vaccine. Spokesman Mike Leary says the staff who will be vaccinated first are working in the most high-risk positions.

"That would be the emergency department, our ICU, our COVID-19 units in the hospital, as well our Berkshire Health Systems urgent care locations. That would include the physicians, nurses, therapists, and technologists who work in those areas, as well as any other ancillary staff," said Leary.

Leary also says the number of COVID-19 patients at Berkshire Medical Center has dropped to below 40 in the last few days, and they're hopeful those numbers will continue to go down.