An improved needle guard for a syringe is provided having a tubular body. The needle guard includes a longitudinal bore and one or more slots or slits formed therein. The longitudinal bore of the guard is sized for telescopic reception of and contraction about the tubular body of the syringe. Slots or slits are arranged so as to allow deformation of the longitudinal bore of the needle guard thereby increasing the inside diameter of the longitudinal bore so as to allow axial movement of the needle guard along the tubular body of the syringe.
