The virus has now killed 6,561 people in the state. Yet, more help is on the way. This week, the second doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be sent to 53 hospitals across the state that started administering the vaccine two weeks ago. The two Pfizer vaccine shots are to be given 21 days apart. On Monday, CVS and Walgreens began administering nearly 100,000 Moderna vaccine doses to North Carolina nursing home residents, an important step for the congregate living communities ravaged by the virus. “This has been a really, really challenging year, and this represents hope and optimism that life may return to normal for our residents and their families and our staff members,” said Adam Sholar, president and CEO of the N.C. Health Care Facilities Association, which represents most nursing homes in the state. “The fact that today’s finally here is really wonderful. I don’t know how else to say it.”