A safety needle assembly for an injector is provided herein which, in a first aspect of the subject invention, 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 at least one through aperture formed therein, wherein the at least one through aperture is superimposed over the distal end of the needle in an initial state prior to the injection. In a further aspect of the subject invention, 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 of the shield, 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.