Putin says that "of course" the government is analyzing the pandemic experience as it plans future health-care reforms.
Next question is about the 2021 Duma elections. How will these elections be different and what is the current political landscape? Will the upcoming elections provide an opportunity to new, small parties? What about the problem of external interference?
Putin says the new elections will be held under the constitution that was radically amended earlier this year, giving the State Duma new powers, including greater influence on choice of prime minister and cabinet. This "fundamentally increases" the power and responsibility of the Duma, Putin says.
As for new parties and whether it is time for the old political lions to step aside, Putin said that is up to the voters. He says that a large number of parties will be participating in the new elections and many of them have the right to participate without collecting signatures.
Praises the range of points of view and the sharp debates that one sees in the current Duma from the "traditional parties," even though all of them are based fundamentally on patriotism.
One of the most anticipated questions today is whether Putin will be asked about the poisoning of anti-corruption crusader and opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. (and of course whether he will answer).
Earlier this week, the open-source research group Bellingcat, along with The Insider, CNN, and Der Spiegel, published a bombshell investigation that found Navalny, who almost died in August, had been poisoned by Novichok by a special group of FSB agents who had trailed him for several years.
Navalny himself concluded that such an operation could not have been carried out without the approval of the head of the FSB, and Putin himself.
Ahead of the news conference, Navalny appeared to taunt Putin slightly, with a post on Facebook that repeated some of the findings of the case.
"We've grabbed the popcorn. We're waiting for Putin," he wrote.
Next question is from the call center in Novosibirsk. Question from Altaisky krai. Asks whether Putin has been vaccinated and how the vaccine will be distributed. Will there be enough doses for Russia if Russia is helping other countries?
Putin tells everyone to closely follow the recommendations of specialists. Says that his turn to get a vaccine has not yet come and that he is a "law-abiding citizen," but that he will get a vaccine as soon as his turn comes up. Also tells people to get flu vaccines. Urges everyone to get the vaccine as soon as they can, saying the Russian vaccine is safe and effective.
Regarding assistance to other countries, Putin says the government's priority is to vaccinate everyone in Russia. Says Russia is expanding its capacity to produce the vaccine and while this is happening, Russia is helping other countries to produce the vaccine themselves.
State media outlet quotes Putin as saying "old political heavyweights" should step aside. Commenter suggests that means he should show himself the door.
- By Mike Eckel
Not sure about the latest statistics about "vaccine hesitancy" among Russians, but Putin takes his third question about health care to try to persuade (cajole? implore?) Russians to take the Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine, now that it is being rolled out nationwide.
Recall: Putin announced, with great fanfare, in August that Russia was the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine -- an announcement that was met with skepticism outside of Russia.
Reportedly, one of Putin's daughters was among the first to have been vaccinated.