‘It was a no-brainer’

Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari goes to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com)

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari goes to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com)

Today, we continue our new series on the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Over the next several weeks, you’ll hear from your neighbors, faith leaders and those in the business community, among others. They’ll share their personal stories – all of them with a simple and heartfelt message: Get vaccinated. Save Lives.

The first reason that comes into my mind is because of my family, taking care of my family and my relatives and making sure that we’re OK.

And then, because I lived firsthand what happened with the pandemic situation in Italy, especially my area. Seeing people hospitalized and doctors not being able to manage the situation because the people that were dying were too many. So they had to make a decision, which is the worst thing for a doctor to decide, who is going to live and who is not. It was just a tough situation.

It was a no-brainer for me to get the vaccine.

Danilo Gallinari is a forward for the Atlanta Hawks. He is originally from Sant’Angel Lodigiano, Italy.