I think that the most likely scenario, the one that the media is gearing up for, is the situation where herd immunity is reached among certain groups of people, while the disease continues to kill immigrants, POC, prison population, and the minimum wage workers around the country. And some countries will just never be immunized. But once the majority of the ‘middle class’ or whatever the fuck gets vaccinated, we’ll all declare a job well done and stop reporting covid deaths in poor neighborhoods. I mean, even moreso than we do already.

IMO this doesn't work because as soon as a white middle class decides they need an ICU unit all of them will be occupied. Remember that the people who die are also mostly those with tons of pre-existing conditions. These people will need healthcare regardless if they have COVID or not and there wont be enough capacity. So there are key parts to this whole interaction that prevents the scenario you are predicting.

All the overcrowed hospitals will have a material impact regardless if a news reporter allowed inside or not, and that wont change because Joe from management is now immune*(terms and conditions may apply) to COVID either.

The media may try to play a "mission accomplished" card 3-6 months from now, but I don't think it will succeed on its own. The vaccination campaign will have to be somewhat successful.