Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge that requires urgent action worldwide. In 2024, there were approximately 10.7 million new TB cases globally, with populations at high risk and vulnerable groups disproportionately affected. In 2025, the WHO released Policy Brief: Tuberculosis among Populations at High Risk and People in Vulnerable Situations (hereinafter referred to as the "Policy Brief") to promote a strategic shift in TB prevention and control from broad, population-wide coverage toward a more targeted focus on populations at high risk and vulnerable groups. The Policy Brief systematically defines two priority categories—populations at high risk and vulnerable groups—and highlights that these categories often substantially overlap in practice: the same population may be “high risk” due to biological or clinical susceptibility, while simultaneously being "vulnerable" because of structural barriers and limited access to quality services. Accordingly, the Policy Brief calls for strengthening active TB screening, expanding coverage of TB preventive treatment (TPT), and advancing intersectoral collaboration to deliver integrated health services and social support, thereby improving the relevance and effectiveness of TB control efforts. As an important evidence-informed reference, the Policy Brief provides a foundation for countries to formulate equitable and efficient TB policies and offers critical guidance for advancing the core goals of the WHO "End TB Strategy". Building on China's national context, this paper will conduct an in-depth analysis of the Policy Brief and propose localized strategic recommendations for TB prevention and control among populations at high risk and vulnerable groups, to inform decision-making for ending the TB epidemic in China.

Key words: High-risk populations, People in vulnerable situations, Tuberculosis, Social determinants, Public health policy, Policy interpretation