A safety needle assembly is provided which includes a needle having a distal end formed for injection, a carrier for supporting the needle, and a shield for selectively covering the distal end of the needle. The shield includes a proximal and, a distal end and a sidewall extending therebetween. The sidewall defines a first outer diameter at or adjacent to the distal end, and the sidewall defines at least one outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter at one or more locations located proximally of the first outer diameter.
