Between a Shot and a Hard Place

by Joel Warsh

Vaccines are amongst the most heated topics of debate and discourse around vaccines is often subject to censorship. This is why openly discussing them has never been more critical. In Between a Shot and Hard Place, Dr. Joel "Gator" Warsh, an integrative pediatrician and trusted voice in holistic health, navigates the complex and controversial landscape of childhood vaccination with clarity, compassion, and evidence-based insight.


This book is not about taking sides—it's about empowering parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions for their families. Drawing on decades of medical expertise, the latest research, and real-world experience in his practice, Dr. Gator presents a balanced, nuanced perspective that bridges the gap between mainstream medicine and holistic health.


In Between a Shot and Hard Place, you’ll


• A historical perspective on vaccines
• How do vaccines work, and why are they so heavily debated?
• What are the risks and benefits of specific vaccines, and how do they compare?
• What the research actually shows on vaccines, autism, SIDS, and chronic disease
• How to make decisions that are right for your family


Dr. Gator shares case studies, practical advice, and tips for communicating effectively with healthcare providers. Whether you're a parent starting to explore vaccination options, someone following an alternative schedule, or simply looking for a deeper understanding of this complex topic, this book is your trusted companion.


With honesty, humility, and a commitment to the health and well-being of all children, Between a Shot and Hard Place challenges the polarizing rhetoric and offers a path forward—one that respects individual choices while fostering informed, thoughtful dialogue.

Genres: Medicine, Health, Parenting, Nonfiction, Vaccines

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh is a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in parenting, wellness, and integrative medicine. He grew up in Toronto. He completed his Pediatric Medicine training at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and currently runs Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine Studio City. He is also the founder of the parenting Masterclass series Raising Amazing.

Reviews

[Jessica Guseyn-Zade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read from front to back. Wish I would’ve had a book like this when my babies were younger. I love how he gives the facts, the history, the good & bad without being picking a side. Ultimately it’s up to parents to decide but having the facts on what they are injecting into our children and what could happen if we do or we don’t vaccinate is so important.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of cherry-picked data and scare tactics, this is anything but a neutral tome on vaccines. Disappointing.

[Chris Jansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a good job laying out both sides of the debate—but he never actually says anything. It’s just pages and pages of ultra-specific detail with no real summary, no big-picture takeaways, and definitely no help drawing a conclusion. If you’re trying to make informed choices for your kids, be ready to work for it.

Also, this book could be half as long if the author didn’t feel the need to shout “I’m not telling you what to do!” every other page. We get it. You love open debate. You think we should hear both sides. Cool. So do your readers—or they wouldn’t have made it past chapter one. No need to keep preaching to the choir.

[Nathan Pullman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is primarily written in the US context, there's helpful information in here for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of vaccines, how they work, what's in them, how they have been studied as safe and effective, and how they were created.

As a soon to be parent, this has helped me to be more informed in making decisions around this issue in relation to my child. Definitely worth the read.

[tina hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one of the most neutral-minded books on vaccines that i’ve read so far. very fact based, for ever “anti” thought there’s a “pro” thought within a page. he breaks it all down in a very easily digestible way. great book all around.

[Sue Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An objective review of the vaccine schedule by a paediatrician: the good, the bad and the ugly. Thought provoking

[Julia Corr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshingly clear, factual, informative book about a topic that’s become so controversial to even talk about

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mediator between the fringe and the standard thought on vaccines. Just presents the research, what we do and don’t know, and makes it a point to not make recommendations.

[Paula Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG- I am spot on! You’re welcome my children!