TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Pfizer Inc. said Wednesday that its blockbuster vaccine against pneumonia, blood and other infections met its goal of preventing illness in vulnerable elderly patients in a huge study required by U.S. regulators.

The New York-based company’s Prevnar 13 protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal disease, which can cause painful children’s ear infections, pneumonia and life-threatening bloodstream infections.