California Governor Gavin Newsom has received a coronavirus vaccine booster shot, a move he encouraged others to take as the state heads into the time of year that in 2020 ushered in the deadliest spike of Covid-19 cases, AP reports.

Newsom got his shot at a health clinic in Oakland. He said it was painless and then flexed in celebration. After a 15-minute break to ensure no immediate side effects, he issued a warning about the dangers of the upcoming holiday season.

Still, millions are not vaccinated and new cases and hospitalisations have flattened after a steady two-month decline that saw California boast the nations lowest infection rate. State models show a gradual increase in hospitalisations in the next month.