Even though the flu shot was only slightly effective this year, manufacturers are planning to produce them in record numbers for the upcoming flu season. 143 million doses are expected to be produced for the 2008-09 flu season. 140 million doses were manufactured this past flu season.

• Read more about the 2007-08 flu season and why the flu shot didn't work.

Because the flu shot did not work as well as it usually does, experts and medical professionals expect rates of immunizations to decrease this season as people lose confidence in the vaccine. But the healthcare community and vaccine manufacturers remain optimistic and hopeful that effective education campaigns will encourage people to get their flu vaccine despite what happened this past flu season.

• How the flu shot works.