Herd immunity was once thought of as the pandemic finish line. That might have changed.
 |  | By Paola de Varona, Associate News Editor | | Remember that time when we were hopeful COVID vaccines would be our one-way ticket out of the pandemic?
Last March, as I awaited my turn for a shot, I had a playlist titled "Waiting for the Vaccine." The mix of sad ballads ("White Ferrari" by Frank Ocean) and optimistic anthems ("Good Days" by SZA) encapsulated both my pandemic fatigue and the excitement of leaving COVID behind. But then the vaccines became available to all. And cases still skyrocketed this summer.
So, how exactly will this pandemic end? | | | Today's Top Story | | Will We Ever Reach Herd Immunity? |  | When vaccines first began rolling out, public health experts pointed to herd immunity as the COVID finish line. The country—and the world— would only achieve herd immunity once a substantial portion of the population was immune to the virus through a combination of vaccination and recovering from COVID itself.
Initial estimates suggested that 60 to 70% of the U.S. population needed to be fully vaccinated to hit that sweet spot. Now, 56.4% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated and 65.3% has received at least one dose. Is herd immunity within reach, or not?
A whole host of factors like the highly transmissible Delta variant, as well as waning immunity from vaccination, are complicating the answer. Experts are divided on whether we'll ever make it to herd immunity at all.
Some doctors remain optimistic that high vaccination rates can eliminate the virus, but others say we may have to settle for an "endemic" state of COVID. In other words, COVID could be around forever. This could look something like the seasonal flu, where you'll need an annual shot to stay safe.
"The whole game is about the race between how fast any given virus mutates, how fast it spreads, and whether or not we have enough 'soldiers' [antibodies] at the ready in our systems," Shruti Gohil, MD, associate medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention at UCI Health, tells Verywell. | | Know More | | The goal post has moved, but maybe only slightly. The percent needed to reach herd immunity may be higher now because of virus mutations and our current vaccination rates. Experts say we should aim to get 75% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated. | | Feel Better | | Even if herd immunity is no longer possible, experts agree that more people getting their shots will prevent future COVID variants and strains from driving major surges again. The more people get vaccinated, the more manageable the situation becomes. | | |  | | Some states and territories, like Vermont and Puerto Rico, have already vaccinated 70% of their populations. Others are expected to do so in the coming months. |  |  | | What "Nine Perfect Strangers" Gets Right (And Wrong) About Psychedelic Treatment | | Hulu's latest hit drama "Nine Perfect Strangers" follows a group of people seeking solace at a wellness retreat for issues like grief and addiction. But the antidote to their ailments turns out to be more than meditation. The wellness employees microdose them with psychedelics. While the show depicts all the research-backed benefits psilocybin treatments can offer for mental health issues, the way it's administered is unsafe. Still, the show is representing this new era of treatment in the mainstream—even though it doesn't have all the facts straight. | | | | Should You Still Get a Booster If You Had a Breakthrough Case? | If you experienced a breakthrough COVID case after vaccination, it makes sense to assume natural infection bolstered your body's immunity. But experts say there's no definite answer on whether that's actually the case.
"We don't know the answer to this question yet, but my feeling is that if you are in a group for which boosters have been recommended, I'd still get the booster," says Albert Shaw, MD, PhD, Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. "We don't know how a breakthrough infection compares to a booster vaccine." | | | | | |  | | Daphne Lee, Verywell Health news editor, stresses the importance of resting and recharging. |  | | There's no shame in taking a break. Resting is for the sake of a longer journey ahead. | |  |  | Daphne Lee
Verywell Health News Editor
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