VP Kamala Harris urges Chicagoans to get vaccinated and stay safe: ‘In that way we will build back up’

Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to Chicago Tuesday since her historic election, touting a “sense of renewal” on the city’s warmest day yet and urging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 “when it’s their turn.” 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot greeted Harris when she landed about 1 p.m. at Midway Airport. The nation’s first ever woman and person of color to serve as vice president was in town to tout President Joe Biden’s vaccine effort on the day he directed states to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by April 19. 

Harris toured a mass vaccination site operating at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 hall at 2260 S. Grove St., which is dedicated to essential union workers. 

Some at the socially distanced vaccination site didn’t immediately recognize Harris until Lightfoot roused them by asking them to welcome the vice president. 

“It is good to be in the house of labor,” Harris said. “What you all are doing is so important, both for the folks who are administering vaccinations, and those who have received the vaccine. 

“Please tell all your friends, tell your aunties and uncles, and your grandparents and kids that when it’s their turn, it’s their time and let’s all just do what we need to do to be healthy to be safe, take care of ourselves and our families, and in that way we will build back up,” she said. 

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Harris’ visit came as officials announced almost $124 million in new federal funding that will go to Illinois vaccination efforts, including about $33 million for Chicago. 

Harris said the hope offered by the vaccine effort comes at a fitting time at the start of spring, following several weeks of religious holidays. 

“It’s a moment where we feel a sense of renewal. We see the buds on the trees, we see the flowers starting to bloom, the days are longer, it’s starting to get warm. And we can see a light at the end of the tunnel, because we’ve been going through so much,” Harris said. 

Harris then went to the Park Manor neighborhood on the South Side with Illinois Lieutenant Gov. Julianna Stratton to visit Brown Sugar Bakery at 328 E. 75th St., a small business owned by women. 

Harris got on Air Force Two to return to Washington later in the afternoon.