'Elusive' herd immunity likely won't stop COVID-19 in the US but vaccines can control it, experts say

For almost a year, Americans have been looking forward to herd immunity, when enough people are protected through vaccination or past infection to stop the spread of COVID-19. Once there, public officials have said, masks won't be necessary and hugging and handshakes – not to mention gyms, bars and indoor dining – can return. But even as more than half of adult Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine and many others are protected by recent infections, health experts are moving away from the idea of reaching some magic number. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor, doesn't want to talk about herd immunity anymore