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.