CHICAGO — As several COVID-19 vaccines are close to approaching distribution in the United States, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other Chicago officials have revealed a plan to vaccinate the first Chicagoans by mid-December.

Lightfoot added that the first batch of vaccinations will go to the highest-risk health care workers, dealing directly with COVID-19 patients.

“We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re still in the tunnel,” Lightfoot said. “We still have areas in the city where we have percent positivity of over 20%.”

Chicago health officials are currently scouting out locations where residents can easily get vaccinated in the months ahead.

Chicagoans are still months away from widespread community vaccinations, leading Lightfoot to urge residents to not travel or congregate for Thanksgiving.

“It’s a hard week for all of us; It’s hard for me, I expected to be celebrating with my 92-year-old mother and Other family members. But that’s not going to happen,” Lightfoot said.

Top Chicago doctor Alison Arwady said federal vaccination programs will focus on area nursing homes, racing to vaccinate the most vulnerable as soon as possible.

Arwady said ultra-cold storage has been built up at the Chicago Department of Public Health, and that the department is working closely with multiple hospitals who have built cold storage capacity.