An injector (50, 150) comprising: an injector housing (52, 152) having a surface (54, 154) configured to contact a skin surface of a user, the surface (54, 154) having an opening (54a, 154a) therein; a needle hub (56, 156) movably mounted within the injector housing (52, 152); an injection needle (58, 158) supported by the movable needle hub (56, 156), the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) being axially translatable between a retracted position, wherein at least a tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) is contained within the injector housing (52, 152), and an injection position, wherein at least the tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) protrudes from the injector housing (52, 152); a needle shield (10, 110) having an aperture (14, 114), the needle shield (10, 110) being movably connected to the injector housing (52, 152) and movable between a first position and a second position; the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) axially translate along an axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the surface (54, 154) from the retracted position to the injection position; the injection needle (58, 158) extends through the needle shield aperture (14, 114) in the injection position of the injection needle (58, 158) and the first position of the needle shield (10, 110), and the injection needle (58, 158) is blocked from extending through the needle shield aperture (14, 114) in the second position of the needle shield (10, 110), characterized in that: the needle shield includes a cantilevered arm, the cantilevered arm having a flanged free end partially blocking the needle shield aperture, the flanged free end clearing the injection needle in the first position of the needle shield, and the flanged free end blocking extension of the injection needle through the needle shield aperture in the second position of the needle shield, and when the needle shield (10, 110) is in the second position and the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) are in the injection position, the needle shield (10, 110) covers the tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) and subsequent movement of the needle shield (10, 110) toward the first position axially translates the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) back toward the retracted position from the injection position, along the axis, wherein the needle shield directly contacts the injection needle to axially translate the needle hub and the injection needle back toward the retracted position. an injector housing (52, 152) having a surface (54, 154) configured to contact a skin surface of a user, the surface (54, 154) having an opening (54a, 154a) therein; a needle hub (56, 156) movably mounted within the injector housing (52, 152); an injection needle (58, 158) supported by the movable needle hub (56, 156), the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) being axially translatable between a retracted position, wherein at least a tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) is contained within the injector housing (52, 152), and an injection position, wherein at least the tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) protrudes from the injector housing (52, 152); a needle shield (10, 110) having an aperture (14, 114), the needle shield (10, 110) being movably connected to the injector housing (52, 152) and movable between a first position and a second position; the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) axially translate along an axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the surface (54, 154) from the retracted position to the injection position; the injection needle (58, 158) extends through the needle shield aperture (14, 114) in the injection position of the injection needle (58, 158) and the first position of the needle shield (10, 110), and the injection needle (58, 158) is blocked from extending through the needle shield aperture (14, 114) in the second position of the needle shield (10, 110), characterized in that: the needle shield includes a cantilevered arm, the cantilevered arm having a flanged free end partially blocking the needle shield aperture, the flanged free end clearing the injection needle in the first position of the needle shield, and the flanged free end blocking extension of the injection needle through the needle shield aperture in the second position of the needle shield, and when the needle shield (10, 110) is in the second position and the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) are in the injection position, the needle shield (10, 110) covers the tip (58a, 158a) of the injection needle (58, 158) and subsequent movement of the needle shield (10, 110) toward the first position axially translates the needle hub (56, 156) and the injection needle (58, 158) back toward the retracted position from the injection position, along the axis, wherein the needle shield directly contacts the injection needle to axially translate the needle hub and the injection needle back toward the retracted position.