Flu while pregnant: safe medicine, the flu jab and when a fever needs a doctor

If you catch flu while pregnant, see a doctor rather than riding it out. HealthHub's fever advice tells pregnant women to see a doctor for any fever, which it defines as 37.5 degrees C or more, and KKH warns that flu is more dangerous in pregnancy because it can lead to pneumonia. Paracetamol is the recommended medicine for fever and aches, at the dose on the label. HealthHub says to avoid ibuprofen in pregnancy. A doctor may prescribe an antiviral such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which HealthHub says is likely worth it for pregnant women. The best protection is the flu jab: Singapore's adult vaccine schedule recommends it for women at every stage of pregnancy, and it's subsidised at polyclinics and CHAS clinics.

Cold or flu: how to tell

HealthHub puts the difference simply. A cold comes on slowly, with a blocked or runny nose and a sore throat. Flu tends to hit suddenly, with a high fever, a bad cough, a headache and exhaustion. If you think it's flu, HealthHub says to stay home and keep away from other people. Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency says adults with flu can spread it from a day before symptoms start until 5 to 7 days after.

A blocked nose alone, without a fever or aches, is common in pregnancy anyway, so it doesn't always mean you've caught something.

Fever in pregnancy: the numbers that matter

HealthHub's list of reasons to see a doctor for a fever includes simply being pregnant, as well as a high fever or one that goes on for more than five days. KKH lists fever among the problems to come straight in for, alongside bleeding, your baby moving less than usual, and severe headaches, changes in vision or tummy pain. The US CDC adds that a high fever early in pregnancy has been linked in some studies to problems such as neural tube defects, which is one more reason to treat it rather than wait.

Which cold and flu medicines are safe in pregnancy

Check the label of every cold and flu product. HealthHub notes that paracetamol is often combined with other medicines, so taking Panadol plus a flu sachet can double the dose without you noticing. Too much paracetamol can damage the liver. HealthHub also says there's no established link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism in children. If you're unsure about a product, ask the pharmacist and say you're pregnant.

Antivirals work best early

The CDA says rest, fluids and fever medicine are usually enough for flu, and that antivirals can make it shorter and milder. The CDC recommends starting antivirals promptly for pregnant women with confirmed or suspected flu, which is why seeing a doctor in the first day or two matters. If your partner or child has flu, ask your doctor whether you should take an antiviral to prevent it, as HealthHub's oseltamivir page covers prevention as well as treatment.

Looking after yourself at home

• Rest, and drink enough that your urine stays pale.
• Take paracetamol for fever and aches, no more often than the label allows.
• Eat small, plain meals if your appetite is gone.
• Use saline spray, steam from a hot shower or a humidifier for a blocked nose.
• Keep a thermometer by the bed and write down your temperatures, so you can tell the doctor.

If someone at home has flu, KKH's HealthXchange suggests sleeping in a separate room until they've recovered and wearing a mask if your own immunity is low. Wash your hands often and don't share cups or towels.

The flu jab in pregnancy

KKH calls the flu vaccine the most effective protection and says it can be safely given at any point in pregnancy. Singapore's National Adult Immunisation Schedule, updated on 1 April 2026, recommends it for women at all stages of pregnancy, once a year or per flu season.

The basics, from KKH and HealthHub:

• It contains killed flu virus, so it can't give you flu.
• It takes about two weeks to start protecting you.
• Your antibodies cross the placenta and may protect your baby for the first few months, before babies can have their own flu jab.
• Side effects are mild: a sore arm, headache, aches, a slight fever or tiredness for a few days. Paracetamol helps.
• It's safe to breastfeed after the flu jab.

The schedule notes that one flu vaccine brand, SKYCellflu, hasn't been evaluated in pregnant women, so it's reasonable to ask which brand you're getting. You can have the flu jab in the same visit as the whooping cough (Tdap) jab, which the schedule recommends between 16 and 32 weeks of each pregnancy. KKH gives the RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks.

Where to get it and what it costs

HealthHub says the flu jab is available at all polyclinics and most private clinics, and your gynae can usually give it at a check-up.

• Polyclinics: eligible Singapore citizens and PRs get up to 75% off nationally recommended vaccines.
• CHAS GP clinics: eligible citizens get subsidies too. For citizens aged 18 to 64 in groups that include pregnant women, the fee is capped at $18 with a CHAS Blue or Orange card and $35 with CHAS Green or no card. Ask the clinic to confirm.
• Your Healthier SG clinic: citizens pay nothing for nationally recommended vaccines at the clinic they're enrolled with.
• MediSave can pay the balance at polyclinics and CHAS clinics.

PRs get the subsidy at polyclinics only. Prices at private clinics and gynae practices vary, so ask before the jab.

When flu in pregnancy is an emergency

Go to an emergency department, or KKH's Urgent O&G Centre if you're under 22 weeks (the Delivery Suite from 22 weeks), if you have:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in your chest or tummy that doesn't go away
• Dizziness, confusion or being hard to wake
• Very little urine, or none
• A fever or cough that seemed better and then comes back worse
• A fever that paracetamol doesn't bring down
• Bleeding, or your baby moving less than usual

The first three signs come from the CDC's list of flu emergency signs in adults; the bleeding and movement signs are KKH's. KKH and SingHealth note that flu in pregnancy can cause premature birth and low birth weight, so don't wait to see if it passes. For more on what's normal in the weeks ahead, see our guide to common pregnancy discomforts by trimester, and keep track of your check-ups with our prenatal check-ups and scans guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Panadol for flu while pregnant?

Yes. HealthHub says paracetamol is the recommended medicine for pain and fever in pregnancy when you follow the label. Check other flu products for hidden paracetamol so you don't double up.

What temperature is too high when pregnant?

HealthHub counts 37.5 degrees C or more as a fever and above 38.5 degrees C as a high fever, and tells pregnant women to see a doctor for any fever. Go to hospital if it comes with bleeding, reduced movements or breathing trouble.

Is the flu jab safe in pregnancy?

Yes. KKH says it can be safely given at any point in pregnancy, and Singapore's adult vaccine schedule recommends it for women at all stages of pregnancy. It contains killed virus and can't give you flu.

Can flu harm my baby?

KKH and SingHealth say flu in pregnancy can lead to premature birth or low birth weight, and rarely to the loss of a baby. Treating a fever quickly and getting the flu jab both lower the risk.

Can I take Tamiflu while pregnant?

Yes, if your doctor prescribes it. HealthHub says the benefits for pregnant women are likely to outweigh the theoretical risks, and it works best when started early.

Where can I get a flu jab in Singapore while pregnant?

At any polyclinic, most GP clinics and your gynae. Citizens pay nothing at their enrolled Healthier SG clinic, and polyclinics give up to 75% off for citizens and PRs.

Planning your next steps? Our due date calculator gives your weeks, and the vaccination schedule tool shows your baby's jabs after birth.