With COVID-19 still looming this fall, the upcoming flu season will be more challenging and complicated than in years past. Flu vaccine manufacturers recently projected they will provide as many as 198 million doses this year, surpassing the record set by last winter's flu season (175 million doses).

"While questions remain about exactly what this year's flu season will look like, one thing is very clear: Older adults are particularly vulnerable and more at risk for related complications that could lead to hospitalization," says LaNita Knoke, a registered nurse and health care strategist at Home Instead Senior Care. "Whether you are a member of the aging population or you care for someone who falls into that category, it is critical to take every necessary precaution this year to protect yourself from flu."