A recoil reducing needle shield for covering a drug container with a needle includes an outer shell, including an upper portion, a lower portion, and at least one flexible interface positioned therebetween, defining a fulcrum. Radially inward flexing of the upper portion causes radially outward flexing of the lower portion about the flexible interface. An inner cover includes an open proximal end, a closed distal end, and a needle cavity defined therein for receiving a portion of the drug container including the needle. At least a portion of the inner cover is disposed within the outer shell. The open proximal end of the inner cover is coupled to the lower portion of the outer shell, such that radially outward flexing of the lower portion stretches the open proximal end of the inner cover, thereby reducing an initial pull-off force required to remove the needle shield from the drug container.
