WORCESTER, Mass - Vaccinations of healthcare workers in the UMass Memorial Health Care system are underway.

WATCH ABOVE: Full Interview with UMass Memorial President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson on Vaccine

On Wednesday, COVID-facing healthcare providers at Marlborough Hospital and HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster were among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. UMass Memorial President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson says there is light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against the coronavirus.

UMass Memorial President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson said, "We gave the first dose of the vaccine outside of the clinical trial that was performed at UMass Medical School and it was not only a vaccination of one of two shots at this nurse working in the Emergency Department will have to get, but it was a boost of adrenaline for all of us. Because it was just an amazing moment to see the vaccine arrive on Tuesday and to see Wednesday the first caregiver get it. It is the beginning of the end of this thing, the only question is how much suffering we gonna have to go through in terms of the second surge."

According to UMass Memorial, Dr. Kim Robinson, Director of Critical Care at Marlborough Hospital was the first caregiver tp receive the vaccine. 

On Thursday, the vaccination program begins at the Lake Avenue campus in Worcester.