OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Roughly 8.5% of Nebraska’s population has received at least their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But what happens when that number becomes the majority?
"We're hopeful that if we can roll out the vaccine to a broad enough population, get this pandemic under control, that people will be able to start to enjoy some of those things that we all crave so much,” said infectious disease expert, Dr. Mark Rupp.
Rupp said the transition period will still consist of masks, social distancing and other public health measures.
"It's a difficult message for people to fully grasp and kind of a bitter pill to swallow that even after we get the vaccine do we still have to do some of these things. For the short period, I think the answer is yes," said Rupp.
Rupp added that the reality is that there will continue to be a low-level spread of COVID-19, even after most have been vaccinated, adding that more research needs to be done about shedding the virus even post-vaccination.
A rebound from this pandemic could be interrupted by a growing number of variants, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci.
"The encouraging news is that the vaccines we're currently distributing right now are quite effective against that particular variant, less so against the South African," said Fauci.
Fauci said he's hopeful the United States will get the virus under control by the time other more serious variants become widespread.
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