A medical needle shield apparatus (10, 110) comprising: a shield (22, 122) being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of a needle (12, 112), said needle including a proximal end (18, 118) mounted to a hub (28, 128) and said shield comprising: an outer bearing (26, 126) having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis (16, 116); an inner bearing (24,124) having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable telescopically therein along said longitudinal axis and wherein the inner bearing and the outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of the inner bearing relative to the outer bearing; a wedging portion (52, 152) pivotably mounted to said inner bearing and movable with said inner bearing for pivoting and wedging against said needle to secure the distal end of said needle within the second interior space in the extended position; a tether having a proximal end connected to said hub (28, 128) and a distal end connected to said inner bearing (24, 124) for preventing separation of the shield (22, 122) from the needle in the extended position, wherein the tether comprises extendable segments (44A, 44B); and a latch which can engage the inner bearing (24, 124) to maintain a latched structure of the inner bearing (24, 124), outer bearing (26, 126), extendable segments (44A, 44B), needle (12, 112) and hub (28, 128) in a protective configuration about a tip (32, 132) of the needle when retracted into the inner bearing (24, 124), wherein said shield is extensible along said longitudinal axis from said retracted position to said extended position. a shield (22, 122) being extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of a needle (12, 112), said needle including a proximal end (18, 118) mounted to a hub (28, 128) and said shield comprising: an outer bearing (26, 126) having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis (16, 116); an inner bearing (24,124) having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable telescopically therein along said longitudinal axis and wherein the inner bearing and the outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of the inner bearing relative to the outer bearing; a wedging portion (52, 152) pivotably mounted to said inner bearing and movable with said inner bearing for pivoting and wedging against said needle to secure the distal end of said needle within the second interior space in the extended position; a tether having a proximal end connected to said hub (28, 128) and a distal end connected to said inner bearing (24, 124) for preventing separation of the shield (22, 122) from the needle in the extended position, wherein the tether comprises extendable segments (44A, 44B); and a latch which can engage the inner bearing (24, 124) to maintain a latched structure of the inner bearing (24, 124), outer bearing (26, 126), extendable segments (44A, 44B), needle (12, 112) and hub (28, 128) in a protective configuration about a tip (32, 132) of the needle when retracted into the inner bearing (24, 124), wherein said shield is extensible along said longitudinal axis from said retracted position to said extended position. an outer bearing (26, 126) having a sidewall defining a first interior space about a longitudinal axis (16, 116); an inner bearing (24,124) having a sidewall defining a second interior space about said longitudinal axis, wherein said needle is disposed in said second interior space and is movable along said longitudinal axis, said inner bearing disposed in said first interior space and moveable telescopically therein along said longitudinal axis and wherein the inner bearing and the outer bearing remain coaxial throughout movement of the inner bearing relative to the outer bearing; a wedging portion (52, 152) pivotably mounted to said inner bearing and movable with said inner bearing for pivoting and wedging against said needle to secure the distal end of said needle within the second interior space in the extended position; a tether having a proximal end connected to said hub (28, 128) and a distal end connected to said inner bearing (24, 124) for preventing separation of the shield (22, 122) from the needle in the extended position, wherein the tether comprises extendable segments (44A, 44B); and a latch which can engage the inner bearing (24, 124) to maintain a latched structure of the inner bearing (24, 124), outer bearing (26, 126), extendable segments (44A, 44B), needle (12, 112) and hub (28, 128) in a protective configuration about a tip (32, 132) of the needle when retracted into the inner bearing (24, 124), wherein said shield is extensible along said longitudinal axis from said retracted position to said extended position.