Winston Gets Shot or No?

I had always belived that Winston was shot (..."bullet enters his brain"), even though the last paragraph demonstrates he is still alive.

Is the bullet a metaphore; am I missing something?

remember that the party eliminated any devious thought and person, like the 3 people that winston had a fotograph of. even though they were changed and brainwashed they would be vaporized eventually no matter what. this being said, it just appears to be a foreshadowing of what is inevitably going to happen to winston, it just shows you that he wouldnt die a martyr but a loyal member of the party, loving bb.

One of my friends thought that this happened too. I think its a metaphore. It just means that he is dead emotionly. He no longer has free thought or independent thinking of any kind. The party has, essentially, killed him and any ideas he stood for or could have possibly stood for if his plan to revolt had followed through.