Abstract: A shieldable unit dose needle assembly including a needle holding member, a unit dose needle, a shield in pivotal engagement with respect to the needle, and a collar providing pivotal engagement between the needle and the shield. The shield is pivotally movable between a retracted position and a shielded position in which a portion of the shield encompasses the unit dose needle for safety purposes. The needle holding member includes a distal end having a male tapering surface. The collar further includes a proximal end having a female tapering surface in engagement with the male tapering surface of the needle holding member.

Abstract: A shieldable unit dose assembly includes a needle holding member, a safety shield member disposed around the needle holding member, and a unit dose needle including a hub which is connected to the needle holding member. The needle holder member includes a male tapering surface and the hub of the unit dose needle includes a female tapering surface for connection therebetween. The unit dose needle includes a solid elongated unit dose needle having a patient end for containing and administering a unit dose of a vaccine. The telescoping safety shield member is disposed around the needle holding member, and is axially movable from a non-shielding position surrounding at least a portion of the needle holding member to a telescoped shielding position encompassing the patient end of the unit dose needle. The safety shield member may be locked into the shielding position.