SAN FRANCISCO, Kalifornia (PNN) - October 28, 2021 - At least five per cent of Americans have chosen to quit their jobs rather than get the COVID-19 vaccine as part of their workplace mandates, a new poll has found.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) polled 1,519 adults from October 14 to October 24 on vaccination trends, from getting their children vaccinated to asking if they'd leave their job over vaccine mandates.

The KFF reported that 5% of unvaccinated adults polled have left their jobs due to a vaccine mandate.

The study also found that 37% of unvaccinated adults said they would leave their job if their employer required a vaccine or weekly testing.

The figure increases to 72% if weekly testing is not an option.

Since vaccine mandates started going into effect, the workers surveyed reported that vaccine requirements have jumped from 9% of employers in June to 25% this month.

The study also found that workers coming from a $90,000 or more household were more likely to experience vaccine mandates from their employers than those living in a $40,000 or less household.

Of the 1,500 polled, 36% of those who identified as a Democrat reported their employer required vaccination, while Republicans polled only reported 17%.

However, 72% of Republican workers reported they do not want their employers to require it, while only 20% of Democrats said they opposed being forced.

The study's October numbers showed that 72% of participants were already vaccinated with at last one dose, with only 4% reporting they would receive a vaccine if mandated and 16% saying they would 'definitely not' get one.

Six in 10 workers admitted they would seek religious exemptions.

Employers have to seriously consider religious exemptions. Although most religions are not anti-vaccine, it doesn't have to be for employees to apply for it.

Religious exemptions can be granted to employees who 'sincerely' hold the belief and doesn't necessarily have to be held to the religious doctrine, courts said.

Richelle T. Luther, an executive for Columbia Sportswear Company, is calling for clearer guidance on exemptions.

“We need guidance from the federal government on how to process accommodations, particularly for religious exemptions,” told the House Committee last week.

Many companies are facing employee shortages from vaccine mandates, including the New York Police and Fire Departments.

New York could face a serious shortage of firefighters, sanitation workers, and cops Friday evening - the deadline for all city workers to get their first shot or get sent home without pay on Monday.

The head of New York City's firefighter union is telling members to go to work whether they're vaccinated or not ahead of Friday's vaccine mandate deadline, as the police union continues to fight the rule in court.

Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, says that his members felt 'insulted' by Mayor Bill de Blasio's order, which was announced just last week.

“I have told my members that if they choose to remain unvaccinated, they must still report for duty,” Ansbro told a news conference Wednesday.

“If they are told they cannot work, it will be the department and City of New York that sends them home. And it will be the department and the City of New York that has failed to protect the citizens of New York.”

Close to a third of the fire department remains unvaccinated.

Protests have popped up all over the country, including in New York. The Brooklyn Bridge was shut down from 12.30 to 3pm on Monday due to protesters blocking three lanes of traffic leading into Manhattan.